Capillary zone electrophoresis characterization of low molecular weight heparin binding to interleukin 2

A method based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was used to study the interaction between low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and interleukin 2 (IL-2). The results showed that the increase of the concentration of LMWH led to the decrease of the peak height and the increase of the peak width of IL-2, but the peak areas were kept constant. The binding constant of IL-2 with LMWH was calculated as 1.2 x 10(6) M(-1) by Scatchard analysis, which is in good agreement with the results found in the references using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results demonstrated that the interaction between IL-2 and LMWH is of fast on-and-off kinetic binding reaction. CZE might be used to study not only slow on-and-off rates interactions, but also fast on-and-off rates ones. The binding constant can be calculated easily, and the method can be applied to study a wide range of heparin-protein interactions. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Herbal supplements: Recent findings in exercise, health and weight loss

Natural herbs have been in use for weight loss purposes since history began. However, the current global obesity epidemic and the rise in obesity-related chronic diseases, including type-II diabetes and cancer, have highlighted the need for novel and effective approaches for herbal remedies. Whilst the popularity of several prescribed and non-prescribed slimming aids and herbal plant supplements have been marketed for their weight loss efficacy, single and multi-ingredient herbal supplements are still being investigated for their single or combined weight loss benefits. Limited research have highlighted an interesting efficacy for several popular herbal plant supplements including caffeine and capsaicin, Ayurvedic preparations and herbal teas, resulting in various degrees of effectiveness including thermogenic, appetite control and psychological benefits such as mood state. Recent research has suggested acute augmented weight-loss effects of combining herbal ingestion with exercise. For example, ingesting green tea, yerba mate and/or caffeine have been shown to increase metabolic rate, and augmented fatty acid metabolism and to increase energy expenditure from fatty acid sources during exercise with various intensities, particularly at low and moderate intensities. Other promising weight-loss effects have also been also reported for combining exercise with multi-ingredient herbal supplements, particularly those that are rich in phytochemicals and caffeoyl derivatives. Combining herbal ingestions with exercise still require further research in order to establish the supplementation most effective protocols in terms of dosage and timing, and to determine the long-term benefits, particularly those related to exercise protocols, and the long term adherence to sustain the weight loss outcomes.

Método DeLorme versus Electroestimulação no fortalecimento muscular do quadricípete

Monografia apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa para obtenção do grau de Licenciada em Fisioterapia

Os benefícios da amamentação

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Medicina Dentária

A desidratação no idoso

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

Inibidores do co-transportador renal de sódio-glicose 2

Projeto de Pós-Graduação/Dissertação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas

Capillary electrophoresis with boron doped diamond electrode for amperometric detection of low molecular weight biological substrate

The research work in this thesis included the sensitive and selective separation of biological substance by capillary electrophoresis with a boron doped diamond electrode for amperometric detection. Chapter 1 introduced the capillary electrophoresis and electrochemical detection. It included the different modes of capillary electrophoresis, polyelectrolyte multilayers coating for open tubular capillary electrochromatography, different modes of electrochemical detection and carbon based electrodes. Chapter 2 showed the synthesized and electropolymerized N-acetyltyramine with a negatively charged sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin on a boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode followed by the electropolymerzation of pyrrole to form a stable and permselective film for selective dopamine detection. For comparison, a glassy carbon (GC) electrode with a combined electropolymerized permselective film of polytyramine and polypyrrole-1-propionic acid was used for selective detection of dopamine. The detection limit of dopamine was improved from 100 nM at a GC electrode to 5 nM at a BDD electrode. Chapter 3 showed field-amplified sample stacking using a fused silica capillary coated with gold nanoparticles embedded in poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride, which has been investigated for the electrophoretic separation of indoxyl sulphate, homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid. The detection limit of the three analytes obtained by using a boron doped diamond electrode was around 75 nM, which was significantly below their normal physiological levels in biological fluids. This combined separation and detection scheme was applied to the direct analysis of these analytes and other interfereing chemicals including uric and ascorbic acids in urine samples without off-line sample treatment or preconcentration. Chapter 4 showed the selective detection of Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal, PQS for quorum sensing from its precursor HHQ, using a simply boron doped diamond electrode. Furthermore, by combining poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride modified fused silica capillary with a BDD electrode for amperometric detection, PQS was separated from HHQ and other analogues. The detection limit of PQS was as low as 65 nM. Different P. aeruginosa mutant strains were studied. Chapter 5 showed the separation of aminothiols by layer-by-layer coating of silica capillary with a boron doped diamond electrode. The capillary was layer-by-layer coated with the polycation poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride and negatively charged silica nanoparticles. All the aminothiols was separated and detected using a BDD electrode in an acidic electrolyte. It was a novel scheme for the separation and detection of glutathione reduced and oxidized forms, which is important for estimated overstressed level in the human system.

The purification and characterization of the high and low molecular weight forms of rabbit intestinal adenosine deaminase

Accepted Version

Prediction and prevention of venous thrombosis in pregnancy

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the leading cause of maternal mortality. Reports identified further research is required in obese and women post caesarean section (CS). Risk factors for VTE during pregnancy are periodically absent indicating the need for a simple and effective screening tool for pregnancy. Perturbation of the uteroplacental haemostasis has been implicated in placenta mediated pregnancy complications. This thesis had 4 main aims: 1) To investigate anticoagulant effects following a fixed thromboprophylaxis dose in healthy women post elective CS. 2) To evaluate the calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT) assay as a potential predictive tool for thrombosis in pregnancy. 3) To compare the anticoagulant effects of fixed versus weight adjusted thromboprophylaxis dose in morbidly obese pregnant women. 4) To investigate the LMWH effects on human haemostatic gene and antigen expression in placentae and plasma from the uteroplacental , maternal and fetal circulation. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), thrombin antithrombin (TAT), CAT and anti-Xa levels were analysed. Real-time PCR and ELISA were used to quantify mRNA and protein expression of TFPI and TF in placental tissue. In women post CS, anti-Xa levels do not reflect the full anticoagulant effects of LMWH. LMWH thromboprophylaxis in this healthy cohort of patients appears to have a sustained effect in reducing excess thrombin production post elective CS. The results of this study suggest that predicting VTE in pregnant women using CAT assay is not possible at present time. The prothrombotic state in pregnant morbidly obese women was substantially attenuated by weight adjusted but not at fixed LMWH doses. LMWH may be effective in reducing in- vivo thrombin production in the uteroplacental circulation of thrombophilic women. All these results collectively suggest that at appropriate dosage, LMWH is effective in attenuating excess thrombin generation, in low risk pregnant women post caesarean section or moderate to high risk pregnant women who are morbidly obese or tested positive for thrombophilia. The results of the studies provided data to inform evidence-based practice to improve the outcome for pregnant women at risk of thrombosis.