Systemic delivery of adult stem cells improves cardiac function in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Heart regeneration after myocardial infarction (MI) can occur after cell therapy, but the mechanisms, cell types and delivery methods responsible for this improvement are still under investigation. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of systemic delivery of bone marrow cells (BMC) and cultivated mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on cardiac morphology, function and mortality in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) submitted to coronary occlusion. Female syngeneic adult SHR, submitted or not (control group; C) to MI, were treated with intravenous injection of MSC (MI + MSC) or BMC (MI + BM) from male rats and evaluated after 1, 15 and 30 days by echocardiography. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), functional capacity, histology, mortality rate and polymerase chain reaction for the Y chromosome were also analysed. Myocardial infarction induced a decrease in SBP and BMC, but not MSC, prevented this decrease. An improvement in functional capacity and ejection fraction (38 +/- 4, 39 +/- 3 and 58 +/- 2% for MI, MI + MSC and MI + BM, respectively; P < 0.05), as well as a reduction of the left ventricle infarcted area, were observed in rats from the MI + BM group compared with the other three groups. Treated animals had a significantly reduced lesion tissue score. The mortality rate in the C, MI + BM, MI + MSC and MI groups was 0, 0, 16.7 and 44.4%, respectively (P < 0.05 for the MI + MSC and MI groups compared with the C and MI + BM groups). The results of the present study suggest that systemic administration of BMC can improve left ventricular function, functional capacity and, consequently, reduce mortality in an animal model of MI associated with hypertension. We speculate that the cells transiently home to the myocardium, releasing paracrine factors that recruit host cells to repair the lesion.

Reduced venous endothelial responsiveness after oral lipid overload in healthy volunteers

The aim of this study was to investigate endothelial venous function, mflammatory markers, and systemic oxidative stress after an oral lipid overload (OLO). We studied 18 healthy adults (9 men; age, 29.2 +/- 0.9 years; body mass index, 22.3 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2)). Blood samples were collected in the fasting state and 3, 4, and 5 hour after the OLO (1000 kcal, 58% fat) for metabolic variables, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, adiponectin, and resistin. Changes in vein diameter to phenylephrine, acetylcholine, and sodium nitroprusside (dorsal hand vein technique) were measured before and after the OLO. Oral lipid overload increased triglycerides (61 +/- 6 vs 134 +/- 17 mg/dL, P <.001), insulin (7.2 +/- 0.8 vs 10.7 +/- 1.3 mu U/mL, P <.05), and resistin (5.38 +/- 0.5 vs 6.81 +/- 0.7 ng/mL, P <.05) and reduced antioxidant capacity (plasma total antioxidant capacity: 186.7 +/- 56 vs 161.8 +/- 50 U Trolox per microliter plasma, P <.01), vascular reactivity (171.3 +/- 85 vs 894.4 +/- 301 ng/mL, P <.001), and maximum acetylcholine venodilation (105.9% +/- 9% vs 61.0% +/- 7%, P <.05). No changes were observed for sodium nitroprusside. Post-OLO triglycerides were positively correlated with phenylephrine dose (rho = 0.38, P <.05) and resistin (rho = 0.43, P <.01) and negatively correlated with the maximum acetylcholine venodilation (rho = -0.36, P <.05). In conclusion, an OLO impaired venoconstriction responsiveness in healthy subjects, probably because of a reduction in the antioxidant capacity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Reversal of Postprandial Endothelial Dysfunction by Cyclooxygenase Inhibition in Healthy Volunteers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in venous vascular reactivity changes after an oral lipid overload (OLO). Venous endothelial function (dorsal hand vein technique) was evaluated in fasting, 30 minutes after COX inhibition (aspirin-fasting), 2 to 4 hours after an OLO (1000 kcal, 58% fat), and again after COX inhibition (aspirin-OLO, 600 mg/200 mL water) in 10 healthy adults (age, 28.1 +/- 1.3 years; body mass index, 22.3 +/- 0.6 kg/m(2)). Fasting, 2- to 4-hour post-OLO, and 60-minute postaspirin plasma glucose, insulin, and lipids were also evaluated. The OLO increased triglycerides and insulin, reduced low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein, but glycemia and total cholesterol remained unchanged. There were no metabolic differences between OLO and aspirin-OLO. In fasting, aspirin reduced acetylcholine-induced venodilation (107.0% +/- 14% versus 57.3% +/- 11%; P < 0.001). Vascular reactivity was blunted after the OLO (phenylephrine dose: 0.3 +/- 0.2 fasting versus 1.9 +/- 0.8 nmol/min after OLO; P < 0.001) and was partially corrected by aspirin (0.4 +/- 0.2; P < 0.001). Similar changes were observed in maximum venodilation after acetylcholine (107.0% +/- 14% fasting versus 60.4% +/- 9% after OLO, P < 0.001; aspirin-OLO: 95.9% +/- 6%; P < 0.001). The responses to sodium nitroprusside remained unchanged during the study. We conclude that the OLO reduction in the endothelium-dependent venoconstruction and venodilation is partially the result of the action of COX.

Hypo- and hyperthyroidism affect NEI concentration in discrete brain areas of adult male rats

To date, there has been only one in vitro study of the relationship between neuropeptide EI (NEI) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. To investigate the possible relationship between NEI and the HPT axis, we developed a rat model of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism that allows us to determine whether NEI content is altered in selected brain areas after treatment, as well as whether such alterations are related to the time of day. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, induced in male rats, with 6-propyl-1-thiouracil and L-thyroxine, respectively, were confirmed by determination of triiodothyronine, total thyroxine, and thyrotropin levels. All groups were studied at the morning and the afternoon. In rats with hypothyroidism, NEI concentration, evaluated on postinduction days 7 and 24, was unchanged or slightly elevated on day 7 but was decreased on day 24. In rats with hyperthyroidism, NEI content, which was evaluated after 4 days of L-thyroxine administration, was slightly elevated, principally in the preoptic area in the morning and in the median eminence-arcuate nucleus and pineal gland in the afternoon, the morning and afternoon NEI contents being similar in the controls. These results provide the bases to pursue the study of the interaction between NEI and the HPT axis. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Micronutrient prenatal supplementation prevents the development of hypertension and vascular endothelial damage induced by intrauterine malnutrition

Aims: The premise that intrauterine malnutrition plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular and renal diseases implies that these disorders can be programmed during fetal life. Here, we analyzed the hypothesis that supplementation with mixed antioxidant vitamins and essential mineral in early life could prevent later elevation of blood pressure and vascular and renal dysfunction associated with intrauterine malnutrition. Main methods: For this, female Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups on day 1 of pregnancy: control fed standard chow ad libitum; restricted group fed 50% of the ad libitum intake and a restricted plus micronutrient cocktail group treated daily with a combination of micronutrient (selenium, folate, vitamin C and vitamin E) by oral gavage. Key findings: In adult offspring, renal function and glomerular number were impaired by intrauterine malnutrition. and the prenatal micronutrient treatment did not prevent it. However, increased blood pressure and reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation were prevented by the micronutrient prenatal treatment. Intrauterine malnutrition also led to reduced NO production associated with increased superoxide generation, and these parameters were fully normalized by this prenatal treatment. Significance: Our current findings indicate that programming alterations during fetal life can be prevented by interventions during the prenatal period, and that disturbance in availability of both antioxidant vitamins and mineral may play a crucial role in determining the occurrence of long-term cardiovascular injury. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated sugar cane bagasse using Penicillium funiculosum and Trichoderma harzianum cellulases

In this study, we investigated the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse using eight different enzymatic blends obtained from concentrated crude enzyme extracts produced by Penicillium funiculosum and Trichoderma harzianum as well as from the extracts in combination with a commercial enzymatic cocktail. The influence of different levels of biomass delignification, degree of crystallinity of lignicellulose, composition of enzymatic activities and BSA on enzymatic hydrolysis yields (HYs) was evaluated. Our X-ray diffraction studies showed that crystallinity of lignocellulose is not a key determinant of its recalcitrance toward enzymatic hydrolysis. In fact, under the experimental conditions of our study, an increase in crystallinity of lignocellulosic samples resulted in increased glucose release by enzymatic hydrolysis. Furthermore, under the same conditions, the addition of BSA had no significant effect on enzymatic hydrolysis. The most efficient enzyme blends were obtained by mixing a commercial enzymatic cocktail with P. funiculosum or T. harzianum cellulase preparations (HYs above 97%) followed by the concentrated extract of P. funiculosum alone (HY= 88.5%). Increased hydrolytic efficiencies appeared to correlate with having an adequate level of both beta-glucosidase and xylanase activities in the blends. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Purification, and Biochemical and Biophysical Characterization of Cellobiohydrolase I from Trichoderma harzianum IOC 3844

Because of its elevated cellulolytic activity, the filamentous fungus Trichoderma harzianum has a considerable potential in biomass hydrolysis applications. Trichoderma harzianum cellobiohydrolase I (ThCBHI), an exoglucanase, is an important enzyme in the process of cellulose degradation. Here, we report an easy single-step ion-exchange chromatographic method for purification of ThCBHI and its initial biophysical and biochemical characterization. The ThCBHI produced by induction with microcrystalline cellulose under submerged fermentation was purified on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 media and its identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The ThCBHI biochemical characterization showed that the protein has a molecular mass of 66 kDa and pi of 5.23. As confirmed by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), both full-length ThCBHI and its catalytic core domain (CCD) obtained by digestion with papain are monomeric in solution. Secondary structure analysis of ThCBHI by circular dichroism revealed alpha-helices and beta-strands contents in the 28% and 38% range, respectively. The intrinsic fluorescence emission maximum of 337 nm was accounted for as different degrees of exposure of ThCBHI tryptophan residues to water. Moreover, ThCBHI displayed maximum activity at pH 5.0 and temperature of 50 degrees C with specific activities against Avicel and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-cellobioside of 1.25 U/mg and 1.53 U/mg, respectively.

P-Glycoprotein Expression, Tumor Weight, Age, and Relapse in Patients with Stage I and II Favorable-Histology Wilms` Tumor

Fifteen percent of patients with Wilms`` tumor (WT) experience relapse. It has been suggested that weight and age may affect the chances of relapse. Few studies have investigated the role, if any, between P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and relapse. The authors assessed the prognostic value of tumor weight and age at diagnosis and asked whether some other potential biological markers, specifically P-gp protein expression, had a prognostic value in favorable-histology WT. No association between age and relapse could be found. Patients with tumor weight >= a parts per thousand yen550 g were 6 times more likely to relapse, whereas P-gp expression was positive in 18/40 (45%%) of the patients, of which 10/12 (83.3%%) relapsed and 8/28 (28.6%%) did not. Further studies are necessary to elucidate whether or not P-gp is related to relapse in patients with histologically favorable Wilms`` tumor. If confirmed, the protein may be used in the future as a target for new drugs and treatments for this group of patients.

Alkaloids from the Bark of Guatteria hispida and Their Evaluation as Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents

Phytochemical investigation of the bark of Guatteria hispida afforded three new alkaloids, 9-methoxy-O-methylmoschatoline (1), 9-methoxyisomoschatoline (2), and isocerasonine (3), along with 10 known alkaloids, 8-oxopseudopalmatine (4), O-methylmoschatoline (5), lysicamine (6), liriodenine (7), 10-methoxyliriodenine (8), nornuciferine (9), anonaine (10), xylopine (11), coreximine (12), and isocoreximine (13). The major compounds, 2, 6, 12, and 13, showed significant antioxidant capacity in the ORAC(FL), assay. Compounds 5, 6, and 7 were active against S. epidermidis and C. dubliniensis, with MIC values in the range 12.5-100 mu g mL(-1).

Carl Maria von Weber’s Overture to Oberon: A History of Recorded Performance

My research examines the recorded performance history of the Overture to Weber’s Oberon in light of these aesthetic goals. I have charted changes in performance practice trends, including in timing, tempo fluctuation, rhythmic accuracy and ensemble, and the use of portamento. The twenty recordings studied that I surveyed span nearly seventy-five years, and include many of the 20th century’s most prominent conductors and orchestras, including groups from Communist Russia, both pre-World War II and post-World War II continental Europe, the British Isles, and the United States.8 Though by no means comprehensive, my selections encompass a diverse sampling of surviving recordings, ensuring a large enough sample size to reflect general trends in the performance of Weber’s masterpiece. My research and analysis confirms the conventional view of a move toward more accurate—but also more cautious, uniform, and inexpressive— performances. Surprisingly, however, this analysis also suggests that we are on the cusp of a new era in orchestra performance practice, one that shares many of the values of the earlier recorded performances. While maintaining today’s high standards of execution, modern performances now look to regain many of the past’s expressive qualities, doing so in sometimes surprising ways.

Ajustamento intercultural de executivos japoneses expatriados no Brasil: um estudo empírico

O ajustamento intercultural tem sido considerado fator determinante do sucesso em missões internacionais e o conceito-chave do modelo de ajustamento internacional de Black, Mendenhall e Oddou (1991a). O objetivo deste artigo é analisar o ajustamento intercultural de executivos japoneses expatriados. Realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa com 37 executivos japoneses expatriados, em 21 empresas de diversos setores no Brasil. Apesar de a literatura considerar os expatriados japoneses exemplos de sucesso,