Demonstration of antibody and cellular immune response to brain extract in West and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes

Investigamos a resposta imunológica celular e humoral frente a extrato salino de tecido cerebral em 9 pacientes com síndrome de Lennox-Gastaut, 15 pacientes com síndrome de West e 20 crianças normais. A técnica de imunodifusão dupla em gel de agar (Ouchterlony) evidenciou em todos os pacientes, altos níveis de um anticorpo precipitante contra o extrato salino de tecido cerebral. O teste de inibição de migração de leucócitos com o mesmo antígeno mostrou-se positivo na maioria dos pacientes. O possível papel destas respostas autoimmunes na patogenia das sindromes de West e Lennox-Gastaut é discutido.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential of hydrolyzed extract of Agave sisalana Perrine ex Engelm., Asparagaceae

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

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Agaricus blazei methanolic extract fractions assessed using gene and chromosomal mutation assays

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

Efficacy and safety of a soy isoflavone extract in postmenopausal women: A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of soy isoflavone on climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women.Design: In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, a total of 80 women (mean age =55.1 years), who reported 5 or more hot flush episodes per day, were randomized to receive either 250 mg of standardized soy extract (Glycine max AT) a total of 100 mg/day of isoflavone (n=40) or placebo (n=40). Exclusion criteria included: contra-indication for hormone therapy (HT), chronic gastrointestinal diseases, and users of HT within the preceding 6-months. For 10-months, climacteric symptoms were evaluated using a score card and the menopausal Kupperman index. Compliance and safety were also assessed. At baseline and the end of the study, lipid and hormonal profiles, as well as vaginal, mammographic and ultrasonographic parameters were measured. The t-test, Wilcoxon test and ANOVA were used in the statistical analysis.Results: At baseline, the mean number of hot flushes was 9.6 +/- 3.9 per day in the isoflavone group and 10.1 +/- 4.9 in the placebo group (p>0.05). After 10 months, there was a significant reduction in frequency of hot flushes among isoflavone users when compared to those on placebo (3.1 +/- 2.3 and 5.9 +/- 4.3, respectively) (p<0.001). Kupperman index mean values showed a significant reduction in both groups. However, soy isoflavone was significantly superior to placebo, in reducing hot flush severity (69.9% and 33.7%, respectively) (p<0.001). Endometrial thickness, mammography, vaginal cytology, lipids and hormonal profile did not change in both groups. No serious adverse event related to isoflavone treatment was reported.Conclusions: the soy isoflavone extract exerted favorable effects on vasomotor symptoms and good compliance, providing a safe and effective alternative therapeutic for postmenopausal women. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Modulation of eosinophil generation and migration by Mangifera indica L. extract (Vimang (R))

The effects of Vimang((R)), an aqueous extract of the stem bark of Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaccae), on cell migration in an experimental model of asthma was investigated. In vivo treatment of Toxocara canis-infected BALB/c mice for 18 days with 50 mg/kg Vimang((R)) reduced eosinophil migration into the bronchoalveolar space and peritoneal cavity. Also, eosinophil generation in bone marrow and blood eosinophilia were inhibited in infected mice treated with Vimang((R)). This reduction was associated with inhibition of IL-5 production in serum and eotaxin in lung homogenates. In all these cases the effects of Vimang((R)) were more selective than those observed with dexamethasone. Moreover, Virnang((R)) treatment is not toxic for the animals, as demonstrated by the normal body weight increase during infection. These data confirm the potent anti-inflammatory effect of Vimang R and support its potential use as an alternative therapeutic drug to the treatment of eosinophilic disorders including those caused by nematodes and allergic diseases. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CROSS-REACTIVITY BETWEEN HARD TICK ANTIGENS

1. The present study was carried out to determine the target cells and tissues for anti-tick immunoglobulins using an indirect immunohistochemical technique.2. Sections in triplicate prepared from unfed ticks Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. evertsi and Amblyomma variegatum were used to assess the cross-reactivity of serum from guineapigs naturally infested with these tick species or immunized against them.3. The sections showed slight (+) to strong (++++) labelling of several structures in the tick body, e.g. salivary gland, gut lumen and malpighian tubules, depending on the serum used.4. The immune serum resulting from the immunization of guinea pigs with an extract of unfed nymphs of R. appendiculatus ticks showed the most intense cross-reactivity with the sections examined.

Chitinolytic activities in the gut of Aedes aegypti (Diptera : Culicidae) larvae and their role in digestion of chitin-rich structures

Mosquito larvae are believed to be capable of digesting chitin, an insoluble polysaccharide of N-acetylglucosamine, for their nutritional benefit. Studies based on physiological and biochemical assays were conducted in order to detect the presence of chitinase activities in the gut of the detritus-feeding Aedes aegypti larvae. Larvae placed for 24 h in suspensions of chitin azure were able to digest the ingested chitin. Semi-denaturing PAGE using glycol chitin and two fluorogenic substrate analogues showed the presence of two distinct chitinase activities: an endochitinase that catalyzed the hydrolysis of chitin and an endochitinase that cleaved the short substrates [4MU(GlcNAc)(3)] and [4MU(GlcNAc)(2)] that hydrolyzed the chitobioside [4MU(GlcNAc)(2)]. The endochitinase had an extremely broad pH-activity against glycol chitin and chitin azure, pH ranging from 4.0 to 10.0. When the substrate [4MU(GlcNAc)(3)] was used, two activities were observed at pH ranges 4.0-6.0 and 8.0-10.0. Chitinase activity against [4MU(GlcNAc)(3)] was detected throughout the gut with the highest specific activity in the hindgut. The pH of the gut contents was determined by observing color changes in gut after feeding the larvae with color indicator dyes. It was observed a correlation between the pH observed in the gut of feeding larvae (pH 10-6.0) and the optimum pH for gut chitinase activities. In this work, we report that gut chitinases may be involved in the digestion of chitin-containing structures and also in the partial degradation of the chitinous peritrophic matrix in the hindgut. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Temperature and water content influence on thermophysical properties of coffee extract

Specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and density of coffee extract were experimentally determined in the range of 0.49 to 0.90 (wet basis) water content and at temperatures varying from 30 to 82 degreesC. Thermal conductivity and specific heat were measured by means of the same apparatus- a cell constituted of two concentric cylinders - operating at steady and unsteady state, respectively. The thermal diffusivity was measured by the well-known Dickerson's method and density was determined by picnometry. The results obtained were used to derive mathematical models for predicting these properties as a function of concentration and temperature.

Sensitivity of ant (Cephalotes) colonies and individuals to antibiotics implies feeding symbiosis with gut microorganisms

Ants in the tribe Cephalotini are exceptional in that they maintain microorganisms in their digestive tract. To understand what these microorganisms mean to the ants, we observed the feeding habits of Cephalotes pusillus and Cephalotes atratus, finding that in nature they feed on extrafloral nectars, homopteran secretions, and bird droppings. Feeding the antibiotic kanamycin to colonies of C. pusillus in the laboratory kills them. Ants desiccate or starve rather than feed on liquids to which the antibiotics gentamycin and netilmycin have been added, but feed and survive on liquids containing nystatin, penicillin, and ampicillin. We identified over 10 microorganisms from the intestine of C. pusillus with different antibiotic-resistance patterns. The bacteria are from the genera Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, Sphingobacterium, Ochrobactrum, Myroides, Brevundimonas, Alcaligenes, Stenotrophomonas, Moraxella, and Pseudomonas. We hypothesize that the microorganisms provide nutrients to the ants by synthesizing amino acids from carbohydrates and nitrates. We do not know whether the ants collect the bacteria from the environment, but they transmit them to their young. They culture them in their digestive tract, eventually feeding on them.

Preliminary studies of Mammea americana L. (Guttiferae) bark/latex extract point to an effective antiulcer effect on gastric ulcer models in mice

Plant extracts are some of the most attractive sources of new drugs and have shown promising results for the treatment of gastric ulcers. Several folk medicinal plants and herbs have been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, including gastric ulcers. Mammea americana L. (Guttiferae) fruit is very common in the diet of the population of northern South America. Our research interest in this plant arose because of its potential medicinal value as a tonic and against stomachache, as used in folk medicine. In this paper we evaluated three different extracts (ethanolic/EtOH, methanolic/MeOH and dichloromethane/DCM) obtained from M. americana L., for their ability to protect the gastric mucosa against injuries caused by necrotizing agents (0.3 M HCI/60% EtOH), hypothermic restraint stress, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID, indomethacin) and pylorus ligation. In the HCI/EtOH-induced gastriculcer model, EtOH and DCM extracts demonstrated significant inhibition of the ulcerative lesion index by 54% (12.0 +/- 2.6 mm) and 86% (3.7 +/- 1.8 mm), respectively, in relation to the control value (26.0 +/- 1.4 mm) (p < 0.000 1). In the NSAID/cholinomimetic-induced lesion model, both EtOH and DCM extracts showed antiulcerogenic effects with significant reduction in the damage to these gastric lesions of 36% (8.3 +/- 2.0 mm) and 42% (7.5 +/- 1.4 mm), respectively, as compared to the control group (13.0 +/- 0.9 mm) (p < 0.0001). In the gastric ulcer induced by hypothermic-restraint stress, both extracts also showed significant activity, and inhibited the gastric lesion index by 58% and 75%, respectively. The EtOH and DCM extracts also changed gastric juice parameters as well as those of cimetidine, decreased gastric acid secretion significantly (p < 0.0001), increased pH values and promoted reduced acid output (p < 0.0001). In all gastric-ulcer-induced models, MeOH extract did not show any significant antiulcerogenic activity, nor did it change gastric-juice parameters (p > 0.05). The results suggest that EtOH and DCM extracts obtained from M. americana possess excellent antisecretory and/or gastrotective effect in all gastric ulcer models. These results suggest that the antiulcerogenic compound(s) present in M. americana may be clustered in the apolar fraction, which will be investigated by our group for the probable mechanisms of action. (c) 2004 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Solid-phase extraction of sugar cane soot extract for analysis by gas chromatography with flame ionisation and mass spectrometric detection

The incomplete combustion of biomass is one of the most important sources of emissions of organic compounds into the atmosphere, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which show genotoxic activity. Since environmental samples generally contain interferents and trace amounts of PAHs of interest, concentration and clean-up procedures are usually required prior to the final chromatographic analysis. This paper discusses the performance of Sep-Pak cartridges (silica gel and RP18) on clean-up of sugar cane soot extract. The best results were obtained with a silica Sep-Pak cartridge. The recoveries ranged from 79% (benzo[b]fluoranthene) to 113% (benzo[e]pyrene). (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Anticlastogenic activity of aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei in drug-metabolizing cells (HTCs) during cell cycle

The mushroom Agaricus blazei has been extensively investigated because of evidence of its antimutagenic, antitumor, and anticarcinogenic activities. This study investigated the clastogenic and/or anticlastogenic activity of aqueous extract of Agaricus blazei (10% w/v) in drug-metabolizing rat hepatoma tissue cells (HTCs), with continuous treatment and treatment during different phases of the cell cycle. DNA damage was induced utilizing two directacting agents-methyl methane sulfonate and ethyl methane sulfonate-and two indirect-acting agents-2-aminoanthracene and cyclophosphamide. The aqueous extract of A. blazei with either continuous treatment or treatment during different phases of the cell cycle showed clastogenic activity. The results with continuous treatment showed that A. blazei does not protect against DNA damage-inducing agents that are direct acting. Meanwhile, when combined with indirect-acting agents, a protective effect was demonstrated. A protective effect was also found during different phases of the cell cycle when cells were treated with indirect-acting agents. The protective effects against indirect-acting agents (continuous treatment and during the different phases of the cell cycle) suggest that A. blazei may provide some health benefits to the public when used as a functional food.

Preliminary studies of analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of Caesalpinia ferrea crude extract

The crude aqueous extract of the fruits of Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. (Leguminosae) has been investigated for possible anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. The carrageenan induced rat hind paw edema was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by oral administration of 300 mg/kg of this extract. A centrally mediated analgesic effect was not observed, however, there was a dose dependent reduction in the number of total writhes induced by acetic acid.

Use of Yucca schidigera extract in broiler diets and its effects on performance results obtained with different coccidiosis control methods

A trial was conducted to assess the effects of the dietary supplement Yucca schidigera extract on the performance of broilers subjected to different coccidiosis control methods. Six hundred male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 1 of 5 treatments with 4 replicates each. The treatments were as follows: T1, vaccinated against coccidiosis; T2, nonvaccinated, a dietary coccidiostat; T3, vaccinated against coccidiosis, diet supplemented with Y. schidigera extract (0.01%); T4, coccidiostat plus Y. schidigera extract added to feed (0.01%); and T5, nonvaccinated, nonsupplemented control. The parameters analyzed were bird performance and morphology of the intestinal mucosal surface. The intestinal villi were higher at 6 d of age in broilers treated with coccidiostats or vaccinated against coccidiosis and supplemented with Y. schidigera extract compared with groups receiving the vaccine only or no treatment. Addition of the Y. schidigera extract to the diet of vaccinated birds improved average daily gain and feed conversion rate at 42 d of age compared with the other treatments, suggesting there might be a beneficial, synergistic effect between the coccidiosis vaccine and the Y. schidigera extract.