Absence of genotoxic effects of the coumarin derivative 4-methylesculetin in vivo and its potential chemoprevention against doxorubicin-induced DNA damage

4-Methylesculetin (4-ME) is a synthetic derivative of coumarin that displays a potent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and metal chelating agent and therefore has been produced to help reduce the risk of human disease. The main objective of this study was to investigate the in vivo genotoxicity of 4-ME and initially to verify its potential antigenotoxicity on doxorubicin (DXR)-induced DNA damage. Different doses of 4-ME (500, 1000 and 2000mgkg -1 body weight) were administered by gavage only or with a simultaneous intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of DXR (80mgkg -1). The following endpoints were analyzed: DNA damage in peripheral blood, liver, bone marrow, brain and testicle cells according to an alkaline (pH>13) comet assay and micronucleus induction in bone marrow cells. Cytotoxicity was assessed by scoring polychromatic (PCE) and normochromatic (NCE) erythrocytes (PCE/NCE ratio). No differences were observed between the negative control and the groups treated with a 4-ME dose for any of the endpoints analyzed, indicating that it lacks genotoxic and cytotoxic effects. Moreover, 4-ME demonstrated protective effects against DXR-induced DNA damage at all tested doses and in all analyzed cell types, which ranged from 34.1% to 93.3% in the comet assay and 54.4% to 65.9% in the micronucleus test.

Poly [1,1'-bis(ethynyl)-4,4'-biphenyl(bis-tributylphosphine)Pt(II)] solutions used as low dose ionizing radiation dosimeter

In this work, the effect of gamma radiation on the optical properties of polymetallayne poly[1,1'-bis(ethynyl)-4,4'-biphenyl(bis-tributylphosphine)Pt(II) ] (Pt-DEBP) in chloroform solution is studied. The samples were irradiated at room temperature with doses from 0.01 Gy to 1 Gy using a 60Co gamma ray source. A new band at 420 nm is observed in the emission spectra, in superposition to the emission maximum at 398 nm, linearly dependent on dose. We propose to use the ratio of the emission amplitude bands as the dosimetric parameter. This method proved to be robust, accurate, and can be used as a dosimeter in medical applications. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

The algebraic structure behind the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation

The Kaup-Newell (KN) hierarchy contains the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation (DNLSE) amongst others interesting and important nonlinear integrable equations. In this paper, a general higher grading affine algebraic construction of integrable hierarchies is proposed and the KN hierarchy is established in terms of an Ŝℓ2Kac-Moody algebra and principal gradation. In this form, our spectral problem is linear in the spectral parameter. The positive and negative flows are derived, showing that some interesting physical models arise from the same algebraic structure. For instance, the DNLSE is obtained as the second positive, while the Mikhailov model as the first negative flows. The equivalence between the latter and the massive Thirring model is also explicitly demonstrated. The algebraic dressing method is employed to construct soliton solutions in a systematic manner for all members of the hierarchy. Finally, the equivalence of the spectral problem introduced in this paper with the usual one, which is quadratic in the spectral parameter, is achieved by setting a particular automorphism of the affine algebra, which maps the homogeneous into principal gradation. © 2013 IOP Publishing Ltd.

A new flavonoid derivative from leaves of Oxandra Sessiliflora R. E. Fries

A fração em acetato de etila (EtOAc) obtida a partir da partição do extrato de etanol (EtOH) das folhas de O. sessiliflora R. E. Fries (Annonaceae) foi submetida a diversos procedimentos cromatográficos, incluindo cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (HPLC), o que resultou no isolamento dos flavonóides: quercetina-3-O-α-L-ramnopiranosil-(1→4)-β-D-glucopiranosídeo (1), inédito na literatura, canferol-3-O-α-L-ramnopiranosil-(1→4)-β-D-glucopiranosídeo (2), rutina (3) e canferol-3-O-rutinosídeo (4). As estruturas foram definidas através da análise dos espectros de ressonância magnética nuclear (NMR) de ¹H e de 13C (1D e 2D) e espectrometria de massas.

Hydroxyapatite/beta-tricalcium phosphate and enamel matrix derivative for treatment of proximal class II furcation defects: a randomized clinical trial

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

Thermo-sensitive chitosan-cellulose derivative hydrogels: swelling behaviour and morphologic studies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Higher-derivative non-Abelian gauge fields via the Faddeev-Jackiw formalism

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analysis of a microbial community associated with polychlorinated biphenyl degradation in anaerobic batch reactors

The degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was investigated under fermentativemethanogenic conditions for up to 60 days in the presence of anaerobic biomass from a full-scale UASB reactor. The low methane yields in the PCBs-spiked batch reactors suggested that the biomass had an inhibitory effect on the methanogenic community. Reactors containing PCBs and co-substrates (ethanol/ sodium formate) exhibited substantial PCB reductions from 0.7 to 0.2 mg mL-1 . For the Bacteria domain, the PCBs-spiked reactors were grouped with the PCB-free reactors with a similarity of 55 %, which suggested the selection of a specific population in the presence of PCBs. Three genera of bacteria were found exclusively in the PCB-spiked reactors and were identified using pyrosequencing analysis, Sedimentibacter, Tissierela and Fusibacter. Interestingly, the Sedimentibacter, which was previously correlated with the reductive dechlorination of PCBs, had the highest relative abundance in the RCS-PCB (7.4 %) and RCS-PCB-PF (12.4 %) reactors. Thus, the anaerobic sludge from the UASB reactor contains bacteria from the Firmicutes phylum that are capable of degrading PCBs.

The H2S-releasing naproxen derivative, ATB-346, inhibits alveolar bone loss and inflammation in rats with ligature-induced periodontitis

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

Observational constraints on a phenomenological f (R, partial derivative R)-model

This paper analyses the cosmological consequences of amodified theory of gravity whose action integral is built from a linear combination of the Ricci scalar R and a quadratic term in the covariant derivative of R. The resulting Friedmann equations are of the fifth-order in the Hubble function. These equations are solved numerically for a flat space section geometry and pressureless matter. The cosmological parameters of the higher-order model are fit using SN Ia data and X-ray gas mass fraction in galaxy clusters. The best-fit present-day t(0) values for the deceleration parameter, jerk and snap are given. The coupling constant beta of the model is not univocally determined by the data fit, but partially constrained by it. Density parameter Omega(m0) is also determined and shows weak correlation with the other parameters. The model allows for two possible future scenarios: there may be either an eternal expansion or a Rebouncing event depending on the set of values in the space of parameters. The analysis towards the past performed with the best-fit parameters shows that the model is not able to accommodate a matter-dominated stage required to the formation of structure.

Higher derivative Chern-Simons extension in the noncommutative QED(3)

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

Enamel matrix protein derivative plus synthetic bone substitute for the treatment of mandibular Class II furcation defects: a case series

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report on the treatment of mandibular Class II furcation defects with enamel matrix protein derivative (EMD) combined with a beta TCP/HA (beta-tricalcium phosphate/hydroxyapatite) alloplastic material. Method and Materials: Thirteen patients were selected. All patients were nonsmokers, systemically healthy, and diagnosed with chronic periodontitis; had not taken medications known to interfere with periodontal tissue health and healing; presented one Class II mandibular furcation defect with horizontal probing equal to or greater than 4 mm at buccal site. The clinical parameters evaluated were probing depth (PD), relative gingival margin position (RGMP), relative vertical clinical attachment level (RVCAL), and relative horizontal clinical attachment level (RHCAL). A paired Student t test was used to detect differences between the baseline and 6-month measurements, with the level of significance of .05. Results: After 6 months, the treatment produced a statistically significant reduction in PD and a significant gain in RVCAL and RHCAL, but no observable change in RGMP. RVCAL ranged from 13.77 (+/- 1.31) at baseline to 12.15 (+/- 1.29) after 6 months, with a mean change of -1.62 +/- 1.00 mm (P<.05). RHCAL ranged from 5.54 (+/- 0.75) to 2.92 (+/- 0.92), with a mean change of -2.62 +/- 0.63 mm (P<.05). After 6 months, 76.92% of the patients improved their diagnosis to Class I furcation defects while 23.08% remained as Class II. Conclusion: The present study has shown that positive clinical results may be expected from the combined treatment of Class II furcation defects with EMD and beta TCP/HA, especially considering the gain of horizontal attachment level. Despite this result, controlled clinical studies are needed to confirm our outcomes.

On partial derivative-Neumann's problem in generalized functions framework

In this paper, we show that the equation delta u/delta (z) over bar + Gu = f, where the elements involved are in generalized functions context, has a local solution in the generalized functions context.