Cytotoxic effects of butanolic extract from Pfaffia paniculata (Brazilian Ginseng) on cultured human breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Roots of Pfaffia paniculata have been well documented for multifarious therapeutic values and have also been used for cancer therapy in folk medicine. This study has been performed in a human breast tumor cell line, the MCF-7 cells. These are the most commonly used model of estrogen-positive breast cancer, and it has been originally established in 1973 at the Michigan Cancer Foundation from a pleural effusion taken from a woman with metastatic breast cancer. Butanolic extract of the roots of P. paniculata showed cytotoxic effect MCF-7 cell line. as determined with crystal violet assay, cellular death with acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, and cell proliferation with immunocytochemistry of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Subcellular alterations were evaluated by electron microscopy. Cells treated With butanolic extract showed degeneration of cytoplasmic components and profound morphological and nuclear alterations. The results show that this butanolic extract indeed presents cytotoxic substances, and its fractions merit further investigations. (C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Estimating Income Inequality in China Using Grouped Data and the Generalized Beta Distribution

There are two main types of data sources of income distributions in China: household survey data and grouped data. Household survey data are typically available for isolated years and individual provinces. In comparison, aggregate or grouped data are typically available more frequently and usually have national coverage. In principle, grouped data allow investigation of the change of inequality over longer, continuous periods of time, and the identification of patterns of inequality across broader regions. Nevertheless, a major limitation of grouped data is that only mean (average) income and income shares of quintile or decile groups of the population are reported. Directly using grouped data reported in this format is equivalent to assuming that all individuals in a quintile or decile group have the same income. This potentially distorts the estimate of inequality within each region. The aim of this paper is to apply an improved econometric method designed to use grouped data to study income inequality in China. A generalized beta distribution is employed to model income inequality in China at various levels and periods of time. The generalized beta distribution is more general and flexible than the lognormal distribution that has been used in past research, and also relaxes the assumption of a uniform distribution of income within quintile and decile groups of populations. The paper studies the nature and extent of inequality in rural and urban China over the period 1978 to 2002. Income inequality in the whole of China is then modeled using a mixture of province-specific distributions. The estimated results are used to study the trends in national inequality, and to discuss the empirical findings in the light of economic reforms, regional policies, and globalization of the Chinese economy.

Selective down-regulation of the astrocyte glutamate transporters GLT-1 and GLAST within the medial thalamus in experimental wernicke's encephalopathy

Although earlier studies on thiamine deficiency have reported increases in extracellular glutamate concentration in the thalamus, a vulnerable region of the brain in this disorder, the mechanism by which this occurs has remained unresolved. Treatment with pyrithiamine, a central thiamine antagonist, resulted in a 71 and 55% decrease in protein levels of the astrocyte glutamate transporters GLT-1 and GLAST, respectively, by immunoblotting in the medial thalamus of day 14 symptomatic rats at loss of righting reflexes. These changes occurred prior to the onset of convulsions and pannecrosis. Loss of both GLT-1 and GLAST transporter sites was also confirmed in this region of the thalamus at the symptomatic stage using immunohistochemical methods. In contrast, no change in either transporter protein was detected in the non-vulnerable frontal parietal cortex. These effects are selective; protein levels of the astrocyte GABA transporter GAT-3 were unaffected in the medial thalamus. In addition, astrocyte-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) content was unchanged in this brain region, suggesting that astrocytes are spared in this disorder. Loss of GLT-1 or GLAST protein was not observed on day 12 of treatment, indicating that down-regulation of these transporters occurs within 48 h prior to loss of righting reflexes. Finally, GLT-1 content was positively correlated with levels of the neurofilament protein alpha -internexin, suggesting that early neuronal drop-out may contribute to the down-regulation of this glutamate transporter and subsequent pannecrosis. A selective, focal loss of GLT-1 and GLAST transporter proteins provides a rational explanation for the increase in interstitial glutamate levels, and may play a major role in the selective vulnerability of thalamic structures to thiamine deficiency-induced cell death.

Relationship of XIST expression and responses of ovarian cancer to chemotherapy

Expression profiling to characterize cancer pharmacology has become a new approach to discover novel molecular targets for prognostic markers and cancer therapy. In a study to compare the global RNA expression profiles between primary and recurrent ovarian tumors from the same patient, we have identified XIST (inactive X chromosome-specific transcripts) as the most differentially expressed gene that was down-regulated in the recurrent tumor. XIST encodes a spliced noncoding polyadenylated transcript that is unique in being expressed exclusively from the inactive X chromosome and is involved in the X-inactivation process. Subsequent characterization of XIST expression in a panel of female cancer cell lines showed that the expression level of XIST correlates significantly with Taxol sensitivity. The clinical relevance of this observation is demonstrated by the strong association between XIST RNA levels and disease-free periods of ovarian cancer patients in a group of 21 ovarian cancer cases with Taxol in the therapeutic regiments. Cytogenetic studies on ovarian cancer cell lines indicated that loss of inactive X chromosome is one mechanism for the loss of XIST transcripts in the cell lines. Our data suggest that XIST expression may be a potential marker for chemotherapeutic responses in ovarian cancer.

Synthesis of fluorinated 2-phenyl-4-quinolones from pyrrole-2,3-diones

A series of substituted 2-phenyl-4-quinolones 8-11 have been synthesized in good yields via ash vacuum thermolysis (FVT) of 1-aryl-4-cyano-5-phenylpyrrole-2,3-diones 7a-e and 1-aryl-4-methoxycarbonyl-5-phenylpyrrole-2,3-diones 7f-j. The pyrrolediones 7 were prepared from amines 3 and benzoylacetonitriles 5a-e or methyl 3-arylamino-3-phenylprop-2-enoates 5f-j.

Two-dimensional balanced sampling plans excluding contiguous units

A balanced sampling plan excluding contiguous units (or BSEC for short) was first introduced by Hedayat, Rao and Stufken in 1988. These designs can be used for survey sampling when the units are arranged in one-dimensional ordering and the contiguous units in this ordering provide similar information. In this paper, we generalize the concept of a BSEC to the two-dimensional situation and give constructions of two-dimensional BSECs with block size 3. The existence problem is completely solved in the case where lambda = 1.

Influence of ageing, heat shock treatment and in vivo total antioxidant status on gene-expression profile and protein synthesis in human peripheral lymphocytes

Ageing results in a progressive, intrinsic and generalised imbalance of the control of regulatory systems. A key manifestation of this complex biological process includes the attenuation of the universal stress response. Here we provide the first global assessment of the ageing process as it affects the heat shock response, utilising human peripheral lymphocytes and cDNA microarray analysis. The genomic approach employed in our preliminary study was supplemented with a proteomic approach. In addition, the current study correlates the in vivo total antioxidant status with the age-related differential gene expression as well as the translational kinetics of heat shock proteins (hsps). Most of the genes encoding stress response proteins on the 4224 element microarray used in this study were significantly elevated after heat shock treatment of lymphocytes obtained from both young and old individuals albeit to a greater extent in the young. Cell signaling and signal transduction genes as well as some oxidoreductases showed varied response. Results from translational kinetics of induction of major hsps, from 0 to 24 It recovery period were broadly consistent with the differential expression of HSC 70 and HSP 40 genes. Total antioxidant levels in plasma from old individuals were found to be significantly lower by comparison with young, in agreement with the widely acknowledged role of oxidant homeostasis in the ageing process. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microminerais orgânicos para codornas japonesas

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho produtivo e a qualidade dos ovos de codornas japonesas em postura, em função da redução e da substituição parcial ou total de microminerais (manganês, zinco, ferro, cobre, iodo e selênio) orgânicos em substituição ao micromineral inorgânico. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos no setor de avicultura do Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo, com duração de 84 dias, distribuídos em quatro períodos de 21 dias. Em cada experimento, foram utilizadas 480 codornas japonesas fêmeas, com 79 dias de idade. As aves foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso em 6 tratamentos, 10 repetições e 8 aves por unidade experimental. Foi utilizada uma mesma ração basal em ambos experimentos, variando apenas os níveis e a fonte dos microminerais utilizados. No primeiro experimento foi adicionado à essa ração cinco diferentes níveis de microminerais orgânicos 25; 50; 75; 100 e 125% da recomendação do complexo mineral orgânico e um nível com microminerais inorgânicos (100% da recomendação) sendo utilizado 1 kg/ton de ração. No segundo experimento, foram adicionados quatro diferentes níveis de mistura de microminerais orgânicos e inorgânicos (20% orgânico + 80% inorgânico, 40% orgânico + 60% inorgânico, 60% orgânico + 40% inorgânico e 80% orgânico + 20% inorgânico), um inorgânico (100%) e um orgânico (100%) na ração. As características avaliadas foram consumo de ração, taxa de postura, peso médio do ovo, massa dos ovos, conversão alimentar por massa do ovo e por dúzia de ovos, peso relativo e absoluto da gema, do albúmen e da casca, além da unidade Haugh. Os parâmetros avaliados não foram afetados de forma significativa pelas diferentes relações de uso de minerais orgânicos e inorgânicos. Observou-se que é possível reduzir para 25% da recomendação de microminerais, quando utiliza-se microminerais orgânicos e que, é possível a substituição em até 100% dos microminerais inorgânicos por orgânicos sem efeito sobre desempenho o produtivo e a qualidade de ovos de codornas japonesas.

Aspectos histológicos e ultraestruturais da língua em ratos desnutridos

Poucos estudos sobre os efeitos da desnutrição protéico-calórica na mucosa oral são encontrados na literatura. OBJETIVOS: O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar os efeitos da desnutrição protéico-calórica na mucosa da língua de ratos adultos, envolvendo microscopia óptica e eletrônica de varredura. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Um estudo experimental foi realizado em trinta ratos Wistar, 15 controles e 15 com desnutrição protéico-calórica. O último grupo recebeu ração em pequena quantidade, com menor conteúdo de caseína, durante 45 dias. Os ratos foram pesados a cada 3 dias, do primeiro (90 dias de vida) ao último dia (45 dias de dieta), quando foram sacrificados. Foi realizada eletroforese de proteínas plasmáticas e as línguas foram preparadas para microscopia óptica comum e eletrônica. Para análise estatística utilizou-se análise de variância e teste T de Student. RESULTADOS: Foi observada uma significante diminuição no peso e nas proteínas plasmáticas dos ratos com desnutrição protéico-calórica em relação ao grupo controle. A análise histológica não mostrou diferenças entre os dois grupos, e os resultados, com respeito à contagem das papilas filiformes da mucosa lingual pela microscopia eletrônica, não revelou diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: A desnutrição protéico-calórica não causa alterações na mucosa da língua de ratos adultos.

Propiedades reológicas y de adsorción de agua de harina extrudida de arroz y bagazo de cebada

El bagazo de cebada procedente de la industria cervecera se utiliza comúnmente en la alimentación animal, pero por medio de un proceso adecuado puede servir como alternativa en las formulaciones de productos alimentares ricos en fibra y proteína. La combinación de bagazo de cebada y arroz (82:18) fue procesada por extrusión para obtener la harina mixta extrudida de bagazo y arroz, de la cual se determinaron las propiedades reológicas y de adsorción de agua, cuyos valores fueron comparados con la harina de arroz cruda. Los modelos matemáticos de Oswin, Smith, Peleg (1988) y Peleg (1993) fueron utilizados para explicar las propiedades de absorción en diferentes temperatura (25, 30, 35 y 45 ºC) y actividades de agua (0.11 a 0.97). Peleg (1993) fue el modelo que mejor describe las curvas de absorción de agua. El perfil de viscosidad aparente de la harina extrudida es similar al de harina de arroz crudo; no presenta viscosidad inicial pero se caracteriza por tener menor temperatura de pasta, quiebra de viscosidad y tendencia a la retrogradación.