Influence of fertilizer on coumarin content and biomass production in Mikania glomerata sprengel

Mikania glomerata Sprengel leaf extracts have been used in cough syrup formulations due to the presence of active coumarin derivatives. Yields of such natural compounds in cultivated plants can be affected by several nutritional factors. To determine the effect of fertilization on biomass productivity, organ proportion and coumarin content, Mikania glomerata plants were submitted during one year to treatments with organic (humus or manure) and inorganic (different levels of nitrogen) fertilizers. Coumarin concentration was raised by organic fertilization, inorganic nutrients induced increased phytomass (stem and leaf) yield, however no fertilized plants showed enhanced leaf production.

Constituintes de Sorocea bomplandii Baillon

The chemical investigation of the leaves of Sorocea bomplandii Baillon (Moraceae) led to the identification of pentacyclic triterpenes, fatty acid ester and isoprenoids. Chromatographyc comparison between the infusion S. bomplandii with that of Maytenus aquifolium - a Celastraceae with proved antiulcer activity - has shown that they have different compositions: the first one is based on sugars and the last one is based on flavonoid glycosides.

Efeitos do tratamento oral com sulfato de vanadila em ratos diabeticos jovens

This work intends to evaluate the effects of oral vanadyl treatment (VOSO 4, 1 mg/mL) in young streptozotocin-diabetic rats during 19 and 29 days. In several times of treatment the rats were monitored to determine body weight, food and water intakes, glycemia, and the urinary excretion of glucose and urea. The animals were killed in the 19(th) and 29(th) days, and the glycemia level was determined again, as well as the weight of pancreas, muscles (Soleus and Extensor digitorum longus - EDL) and adipose tissues (epididymal and retroperitoneal). The results showed that the treatment of young diabetic rats with VOSO 4 promotes the reduction of hyperglycemia (p < 0.01), food (p < 0.01) and water intakes (p < 0.05) and body weight (p < 0.05). Neither the tissues and pancreas weights nor the urinary urea level of the treatment group varied in comparison to the control group. In conclusion, the vanadyl treatment in the studied period is able to reduce the main metabolic alterations often found in diabetes. These data are very useful and important for the future experiments to verify the effects of vanadyl sulfate on muscle protein metabolism in diabetic rats.

Further sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids from Maytenus aquifolium

Two new sesquiterpene evoninate alkaloids, aquifoliunine E-III and aquifoliunine E-IV, were isolated from the root bark of Maytenus aquifolium. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including ES-MS.

A scanning electron microscopic study of the rete testis of the guinea pig

Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observations of the structure of the rete testis (RT) of guinea pigs preceded by and complemented with stereomicroscopy and light-microscopic studies showed that the RT of this species is predominantly cavitary. An axial and labyrinth-like morphological pattern was also observed in the RT complex, with partially interconnected chambers and epithelium-lined channels accompanying a connective axis observed in the middle portion of the cranial end of the testis. Characteristics of the chordae retis and bullae retis were also visualized in the guinea pig RT and the results are discussed in terms of the morphological patterns observed in the RT of other mammals and of man.

Preparation of N2, N2,7-trimethylguanosine affinity columns

2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) binding proteins from human cells were purified through TMG-affinity columns. TMG synthesis was improved and the TMG obtained was shown to be similar to the TMG in the 5' cap of the UsnRNAs. The eluates obtained with TMG-affinity chromatographies were very different from those isolated with m7G-affinity columns, thus suggesting that specific TMG- binding proteins were obtained. The fraction may be enriched with factors associated with import and/or hypermethylation of UsnRNPs.

Atividade comparada da cefepima, cefpiroma e amicacina em amostras bacterianas hospitalares

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of cefepime, cefpirome and amikacin against the most prevalent nosocomial bacteria. Initially a prospective study was designed to compare the bacterial susceptibility to the three drugs using 1,022 pathogenic strains. The strains were isolated from hospitalized patients of the Hospital das Clinicas - Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, SP, from March to December of 1996, by using the Bauer-Kirby susceptibility diffusion controlled method. The activity of cefepime by the Kirby-Bauer method was significantly higher (χ2, p ≤ 0.05) than cefpirome and amikacin for the following bacteria: P. aeruginosa (72% x 56% x 64%, respectively), Enterobacter cloacae (98% x 88% x 80%) and total strains (79.5% x 74.3% x 76.8%). Cefpirome exhibited higher activity than cefepime only to Enterococcus faecalis (42% x 23%). In the 12 other bacterial groups studied the sensibility of the three drugs was similar (χ2, p ≥ 0.05). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 127 bacterial strains - Enterobacter cloacae (12), Citrobacter sp (15), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50), Acinetobacter baumannii (12), BGNF others (22) and Enterococcus faecalis (16)-from the same origin previously described and isolated during 1997, was determined by E-test. Ranges of MIC intervals, MIC(50%), MIC(90%) and the proportion of the sensitive bacterial strains were determined and permitted the following analysis: the activity of cefepime against Gram-negative bacteria was 2 or more times higher than that of cefpirome and amikacin, specially when CIM(90%) was considered; the activity of cefpirome was higher only against E. faecalis. This information must be considered in the rational use of antibiotic, specially in patients with nosocomial infections.

Efeitos de diferentes doses de tenoxicam sobre a medula espinhal e as meninges. Estudo experimental em caes

Background and Objectives. The analgesic actions of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) result from the inhibition of the peripheral synthesis of prostaglandins. In spite of the emphasis on the peripheral action, several studies have shown the potential central action of such drugs. In rats, NSAID doses insufficient to block pain when systemically administered were effective when intrathecally injected. This effect could be mediated by interaction with descending serotoninergic ways together with neurotransmission modulation of glycine or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Our goal was to study the effect of different tenoxican doses in the histology of dogs spinal cord and meninges. Methods. Thirty two dogs (7 to 17 kg) were randomly distributed in four groups: G1 - Control with distilled water (DW); G2 - 2 mg tenoxican diluted in DW; G3 - 4 mg tenoxican diluted in DW; G4 - 10 mg tenoxican diluted in DW in a constant volume of 1 ml. Anesthesia was induced with etomidate and fentanyl and dural puncture was performed with a 25G spinal needle in interspace L6-7. Animals were observed for 72 hours and subsequently euthanized by electrocution. Lumbar and sacral spinal cord segments were removed for further histologic examination. Results. All animals were clinically normal during the observation period and there has been no histologic alteration of the nervous system and meninges. Conclusions. In our experimental model intrathecal tenoxican doses up to 10 mg have not triggered nervous tissue or meningeal injuries in dogs.

Arginine methylation and binding of Hrp1p to the efficiency element for mRNA 3'-end formation

Hrp1p is a heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that is involved in the cleavage and polyadenylation of the 3'-end of mRNAs and mRNA export. In addition, Hrp1p is one of several RNA-binding proteins that are posttranslationally modified by methylation at arginine residues. By using-functional recombinant Hrp1p, we have identified RNA sequences with specific high affinity binding sites. These sites correspond to the efficiency element for mRNA 3'-end formation, UAUAUA. To examine the effect of methylation on specific RNA binding, purified recombinant arginine methyltransferase (Hmt1p) was used to methylate Hrp1p. Methylated Hrp1p binds with the same affinity to UAUAUA-containing RNAs as unmethylated Hrp1p indicating that methylation does not affect specific RNA binding. However, RNA itself inhibits the methylation of Hrp1p and this inhibition is enhanced by RNAs that specifically bind Hrp1p. Taken together, these data support a model in which protein methylation occurs prior to protein-RNA binding in the nucleus.

Intestinal colonization of a human subject by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

Objective: To study the ability of two strains of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium to colonize the human intestine. Methods: A single human subject ingested separately two strains of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium isolated from a pig and a chicken. The feces were cultured on selective medium. Prior to ingestion no vancomycin-resistant cocci were present in the feces. Ingestion of 10 4-10 5 CFU resulted in either no colonization or isolation only after enrichment. Ingestion of 10 7 CFU of one strain resulted in colonization for a period of nearly 3 weeks, with fecal counts at times in excess of 10 6 CFU/g. Ingestion of similar numbers of the other strain and reingestion of the first strain resulted in excretion in the feces for much shorter periods. When the fecal count of the ingested strains was greater than 10 4-10 5 CFU/g, the strains were isolated from swabs taken from perianal skin. Conclusions: Vancomycin-resistant E. faecium strains from pigs and poultry a re able to colonize the human gut and the perianal skin.

Effects of the alpha antagonists and agonists injected into the lateral hypothalamus on the water and sodium intake induced by angiotensin II injection into the subfornical organ

The subfornical organ (SFO) and the lateral hypothalamus (LH) have been shown to be important for the central action of angiotensin II (ANG II) on water and salt regulation. Several anatomical findings have demonstrated neural connections between the SFO and the LH. The present experiments were conducted to investigate the role of the α-adrenergic antagonists and agonists injected into the LH on the water and salt intake elicited by injections of ANG II into the SFO. Prazosin (an α1-adrenergic antagonist) injected into the LH increased the salt ingestion, whereas yohimbine (an α2-adrenergic antagonist) and propranolol (a β-adrenergic antagonist) antagonized the salt ingestion induced by administration of ANG II into the SFO. Previous administration of clonidine (an α2-adrenergic agonist) or noradrenaline into the LH increased, whereas pretreatment with phenylephrine decreased the sodium intake induced by injection of ANG II into the SFO. Previous treatment with prazosin and propranolol reduced the water intake induced by ANG II. Phenylephrine increased the dipsogenic responses produced by ANG II, whereas previous treatment with clonidine injected into the LH reduced the water intake induced by ANG II administration into the SFO. The LH involvement with SFO on the excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms related to water and sodium intake is suggested.

Clonal relationship among invasive and non-invasive strains of enteroinvasive Escherichia coli serogroups

The genetic relatedness among 96 invasive Escherichia coli belonging to several serogroups and 13 non-invasive of several serotypes that share the same O antigen was investigated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis analysis. The invasive strains were isolated in different parts of the world and most of them recovered from dysentery. Twenty-nine electrophoretic types were distinguished and the most invasive strains were found to belong to two major lineages. These results suggested that the invasive ability in these strains has evolved in divergent chromosomal backgrounds, presumably through the horizontal spread of plasmid-borne invasion genes. The maintenance of invasive phenotypes in separate lineages suggests that this ability confers a selective advantage to invasive strains. Copyright (C) 1999 Federation of European Microbiological Societies.

Influence of different routes of flush perfusion on the distribution of lung preservation solutions in parenchyma and airways

Objective: The present study was performed to investigate the influence of different routes of perfusion on the distribution of the preservation solutions in the lung parenchyma and upper airways. Methods: Pigs were divided into four groups: control (n = 6), pulmonary artery (PA) (n = 6), simultaneous PA + bronchial artery (BA) (n = 8), and retrograde delivery (n = 6). After preparation and cannulation, cardioplegia solution and Euro- Collins solution (ECS) for lung preservation were given simultaneously. After removal of the heart, the double lung bloc was harvested. Following parameters were assessed: total and regional perfusion (dye-labeled microspheres), tissue water content, PA, aorta, left atrial and left ventricular pressures, cardiac output and lung temperature. Results: Our data show that flow of the ECS in lung parenchyma did not reach control values (9.4 ± 1.0 ml/min per g lung wet weight) regardless of the route of delivery (PA 6.3 ± 1.5, PA + BA 4.8 ± 0.9, retrograde 2.7 ± 0.9 ml/min per g lung wet weight). However, flow in the proximal and distal trachea were significantly increased by PA + BA delivery (0.970 ± 0.4, respectively, 0.380 ± 0.2 ml/min per g) in comparison with PA (0.023 ± 0.007, respectively, 0.024 ± 0.070 ml/min per g), retrograde (0.009 ± 0.003, respectively, 0.021 ± 0.006 ml/min per g) and control experiments (0.125 ± 0.0018, respectively, 0.105 ± 0.012 ml/g per min). Similarly the highest flow rates in the right main bronchus were achieved by PA + BA delivery (1.04 ± 0.4 ml/min per g) in comparison with 0.11 ± 0.03 in control, 0.033 ± 0.008 in PA, and 0.019 ± 0.005 ml/min per g in retrograde group. Flows in the left main bronchus were 0.09 ± 0.02 ml/min per g in control, 0.045 ± 0.012 ml/min per g in PA, and 0.027 ± 0.006 ml/min per g in retrograde group. The flow rates were significantly (P = 0.001) increased by PA + BA delivery of the storage solution (0.97 ± 0.3 ml/min per g). Conclusions: Our data show that the distribution of ECS for lung preservation is significantly improved in airway tissues (trachea and bronchi) if a simultaneous PA + BA delivery is used.

Repeatability and heritability of response to superovulation in Holstein cows

The objective of this study was to estimate the relative effects of genetic and phenotypic factors on the efficacy and efficiency of superovulation for Holstein-Friesian cows reared in Brazil. A database, established by the Associacao Brasileira de Criadores de Bovinos da Raca Holandesa, consisting of a total of 5387 superovulations of 2941 cows distributed over 473 herds and sired by 690 bulls was used for the analysis. The records were analyzed by MTDFREML (Multiple Trait Derivative-Free Restricted Maximum Likelihood), using a repeatability animal model. The fixed effects included in the model were contemporaneous group (veterinarian, herd, year and season of the superovulation); number of semen doses; cow age; and superovulation order. The estimated repeatability of the number of the transferable embryos was low (0.13), and the estimated heritability was 0.03. These results indicate that environmental factors play a critical role in the response of a cow to a superovulation treatment. There is little evidence that future responses to superovulation by individual females can be predicted by previous treatment(s) or that superovulation response is an heritable trait.

The effect of non-antihypertensive doses of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on myocardial necrosis and hypertrophy in young rats with renovascular hypertension

In renovascular hypertensive rats, low doses of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been found to prevent myocardial hypertrophy independent of blood pressure level. This finding would suggest humoral rather than mechanical control of myocyte growth. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nonantihypertensive doses of ACE inhibitor on myocardial hypertrophy and necrosis in hypertensive rats. Renovascular hypertension (RHT) was induced in four-week-old Wistar rats. Twenty-eight animals were treated for four weeks with three doses of ramipril (0.01, 0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg/day, which are unable to lower blood pressure. Fourteen animals were not treated (RHT group). A sham operated, age/sex-matched group was used as control (n=10). Myocardial histology was analysed in 3 μm thick sections of the ventricle stained with either haematoxylin-eosin, reticulin silver stain or Masson's trichrome. There was a significant correlation between systolic blood pressure and left ventricular to body weight ratio in both sets of animals: untreated plus controls and ramipril-treated rats. ACE inhibition prevented myocyte and perivascular necrosis and fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner. We conclude that myocardial hypertrophy in rats with renovascular hypertension is directly related to arterial pressure, and that this relationship is not affected by nonantihypertensive doses of ACE inhibitor. Myocardial necrosis/fibrosis and coronary artery damage induced by angiotensin II are prevented by ACE inhibitor in a dose-dependent manner, despite the presence of arterial hypertension.