Antimicrobial activity of crude extratcs of Petiveria alliacea L.

Antimicrobial activity of crude extratcs of Petiveria alliacea L.. Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccacea) is an herbaceous plant of great importance in traditional medicine. This species have been widely used in several applications such as antirheumatic, anticarcinogenic, anti-flu, antitussive, analgesic, insecticidal, acaricidal, as well as bactericide and fungicide. Currently, the pathogenic microorganisms are acquiring resistence against the traditional antibiotics, and the search for new herbal antimicrobial agents has been intensified. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and antibacterial activity of several leaf crude extracts of P. alliacea against several strains of bacterias and yeasts namely Bacilus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida kefyr and Candida albicans, using microdilution method. Promising results were observed for the 70% v/v ethanolic extract which presented minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) from 250 to 760 mu g/mL for yeast. For the bacteria strains tested the MIC ranged between 240 to 3960 mu g/mL, depending of the extractive solution tested.

Differential expression of immunomodulatory galectin-1 in peripheral leukocytes and adult tissues and its cytosolic organization in striated muscle

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is important in immune function and muscle regeneration, but its expression and localization in adult tissues and primary leukocytes remain unclear. To address this, we generated a specific monoclonal antibody against Gal-1, termed alpha hGal-1, and defined a sequential peptide epitope that it recognizes, which is preserved in human and porcine Gal-1, but not in murine Gal-1. Using alpha hGal-1, we found that Gal-1 is expressed in a wide range of porcine tissues, including striated muscle, liver, lung, brain, kidney, spleen, and intestine. In most types of cells, Gal-1 exhibits diffuse cytosolic expression, but in cells within the splenic red pulp, Gal-1 showed both cytosolic and nuclear localization. Gal-1 was also expressed in arterial walls and exhibited prominent cytosolic and nuclear staining in cultured human endothelial cells. However, human peripheral leukocytes and promyelocytic HL60 cells lack detectable Gal-1 and also showed very low levels of Gal-1 mRNA. In striking contrast, Gal-1 exhibited an organized cytosolic staining pattern within striated muscle tissue of cardiac and skeletal muscle and colocalized with sarcomeric actin on I bands. These results provide insights into previously defined roles for Gal-1 in inflammation, immune regulation and muscle biology.

Hot melt granulation of coarse pharmaceutical powders in a spouted bed

The hot melt granulation of a coarse pharmaceutical powder in a top spray spouted bed is described. The substrate was lactose-polyvinylpyrrolidone particles containing or not acetaminophen as a drug model. Polyethylene glycol (MW, 4000) used as binder was atomized onto the bed by a two-fluid spray nozzle. The granulation experiments followed a 2(3) factorial design with triplicates at the center point and were carried out by varying the spray nozzle vertical position, the atomizing air flow rate and the binder feed rate. Granules were evaluated by their pharmacotechnical properties like size distribution, bulk and tapped densities, Carr index, Hausner ratio and tableting characteristics. Analysis of variance showed that granule sizes were affected by the PEG feed rate and atomizing air pressure at the significance levels of 1.0 and 5.0%. respectively, but spray nozzle distance to the substrate bed was not significant. The spray conditions also affected granule flow and consolidation properties. measured by the Carr index and Hausner ratio. Measured densities, Carr indexes and Hausner ratios proved that granules flowability and consolidation properties are adequate for pharmaceutical processing and tableting. Tablets prepared with acetaminophen-containing granules showed good properties and adequate release profiles in in vitro dissolution tests. The results indicate the suitability of spouted beds for the hot melt granulation of pharmaceutical coarse powders. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Calcium accretion in girls and boys during puberty: A longitudinal analysis

The primary purpose of this study was to estimate the magnitude and variability of peak calcium accretion rates in the skeletons of healthy white adolescents. Total-body bone mineral content (BMC) was measured annually on six occasions by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; Hologic 2000, array mode), a BMC velocity curve was generated for each child by a cubic spline fit, and peak accretion rates were determined. Anthropometric measures were collected every 6 months and a 24-h dietary recall was recorded two to three times per year. Of the 113 boys and 115 girls initially enrolled in the study, 60 boys and 53 girls who had peak height velocity (PHV) and peak BMC velocity values were used in this longitudinal analysis. When the individual BR IC velocity curves were aligned on the age of peak bone mineral velocity, the resulting mean peak bone mineral accrual rate was 407 g/year for boys (SD, 92 g/year; range, 226-651 g/year) and 322 g/year for girls (SD, 66 g/year; range, 194-520 g/year). Using 32.2% as the fraction of calcium in bone mineral, as determined by neutron activation analysis (Ellis et al., J Bone Miner Res 1996;11:843-848), these corresponded to peak calcium accretion rates of 359 mg/day for boys (81 mg/day; 199-574 mg/day) and 284 mg/day for girls (58 mg/day; 171-459 mg/day). These longitudinal results are 27-34% higher than our previous cross-sectional analysis in which we reported mean values of 282 mg/day for boys and 212 mg/day for girls (Martin et al., Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66:611-615). Mean age of peak calcium accretion was 14.0 years for the boys (1.0 years; 12.0-15.9 years), and 12.5 years for the girls (0.9 years; 10.5-14.6 years). Dietary calcium intake, determined as the mean of all assessments up to the age of peak accretion was 1140 mg/day (SD, 392 mg/day) for boys and 1113 mg/day (SD, 378 mg/day) for girls. We estimate that 26% of adult calcium is laid down during the 2 adolescent years of peak skeletal growth. This period of rapid growth requires high accretion rates of calcium, achieved in part by increased retention efficiency of dietary calcium.

The therapeutic potential of recombinant BCG expressing the antigen S1PT in the intravesical treatment of bladder cancer

Purpose: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) continues to be employed as the most effective immunotherapy against superficial bladder cancer. We have developed an rBCG-S1PT strain that induces a stronger cellular immune response than BCG. This preclinical study was designed to test the potential of rBCG-S1PT as an immunotherapeutic agent for intravesical bladder cancer therapy. Materials and methods: A tumor was induced in C57BL/6 mice after chemical cauterization of the bladder and inoculation of the tumor cell line MB49. Next, mice were treated by intravesical instillation with BCG, rBCG-S1PT, or PBS once a week for 4 weeks. After 35 days, the bladders were removed and weighed, Th1 (IL-2, IL-12, INOS, INF-gamma, TNF-alpha), and Th2 (IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-beta) cytokine mRNA responses in individual mice bladders were measured by quantitative real time PCR, and the viability of MB49 cells in 18-hour coculture with splenocytes from treated mice was assessed. In an equivalent experiment, animals were observed for 60 days to quantify their survival. Results: Both BCG and rBCG-S1PT immunotherapy resulted in bladder weight reduction, and rBCG-S1PT increased survival time compared with the control group. There were increases in TNF-alpha in the BCG treated group, as well as increases in TNF-alpha and IL-10 mRNA in the rBCG-S1PT group. The viability of MB49 cells cocultured with splenocytes from rBCG-S1PT-treated mice was lower than in both the BCG and control groups. Conclusions: rBCG-S1PT therapy improved outcomes and lengthened survival times. These results indicate that rBCG could serve as a useful substitute for wild-type BCG. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Age, invasive ventilatory support and outcomes in elderly patients admitted to intensive care units

Objective: to determine the relationship between age and in-hospital mortality of elderly patients, admitted to ICU, requiring and not requiring invasive ventilatory support. Design: prospective observational cohort study conducted over a period of 11 months. Setting: medical-surgical ICU at a Brazilian university hospital. Subjects: a total of 840 patients aged 55 years and older were admitted to ICU. Methods: in-hospital death rates for patients requiring and not requiring invasive ventilatory support were compared across three successive age intervals (55-64; 65-74 and 75 or more years), adjusting for severity of illness using the Acute Physiologic Score. Results: age was strongly correlated with mortality among the invasively ventilated subgroup of patients and the multivariate adjusted odds ratios increased progressively with every age increment (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.01-2.54 for 65-74 years old and OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 1.58-4.56 for >= 75 years). For the patients not submitted to invasive ventilatory support, age was not independently associated with in-hospital mortality (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 0.99-5.25 for 65-74 years old and OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 0.82-4.62 for >= 75 years old). Conclusions: the combination of age and invasive mechanical ventilation is strongly associated with in-hospital mortality. Age should not be considered as a factor related to in-hospital mortality of elderly patients not requiring invasive ventilatory support in ICU.

Lack of Association Between a 3 ` UTR VNTR Polymorphism of Dopamine Transporter Gene (SLC6A3) and ADHD in a Brazilian Sample of Adult Patients

Objective: To investigate a possible association between a 3`UTR VNTR polymorphism of the dopamine transporter gene (SLC6A3) and ADHD in a Brazilian sample of adult patients. Method: Study Case-control with 102 ADHD adult outpatients (DSM-IV criteria) and 479 healthy controls. The primers` sequence used were: 3`UTR-Forward: 5`TGT GGT GAT GGG AAC GGC CTG AG 3` and 3`UTR-Reverse: 5`CTT CCT GGA GGT CAC GGC TCA AGG 3`. Alleles of the 3`UTR were coded according to their number of repeats: 6- repeat 320 bp (allele 6), 8- repeat 400 bp (allele 8), 9-repeat 480 bp (allele 9), 10- repeat 480 bp (allele 10), and 11- repeat 520 bp (allele 11). Results: There were no allelic (chi(2) = 2.67, 5df, p = .75) and genotypic (chi(2) = 7.20, 1df, p = .61) association between adult ADHD and VNTR 3`UTR polymorphism of SLC6A3. Conclusion: Our findings do not support SLC6A3 as marker genetic susceptibility factor in adult ADHD. More comprehensive polymorphism coverage within the SLC6A3 region should be conducted in larger samples, including comparisons in clinical subgroups, and in samples with different ethnic backgrounds. (J. of Att. Dis. 2011; 15(4) 305-309)

Polymorphisms of the matrix metalloproteinases associated with prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common type of malignant tumor in Brazilian males. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been demonstrated to be present in the promoter region of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes and have been associated with the development and progression of some cancers. In this study, our aim was to investigate the association between the polymorphisms of MMP1, 2, 7, and 9 and susceptibility, and their correlation with the classic prognostic parameters of PCa. For genes MMP1, 2 and 9, the frequencies of the polymorphic homozygote genotypes were higher in the control group than in the PCa group (P<0.0001). We conclude that the MMP1, 2 and 9 polymorphisms are more common in the control group than in patients with PCa, and may have a protective effect in the development of this neoplasia.

Activation of Selected Shoulder Muscles During Unilateral Wall and Bench Press Tasks Under Submaximal Isometric Effort

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the activation of 7 shoulder muscles under 2 closed kinetic chain (CKC) tasks for the upper extremity using submaximal isometric effort, thus providing relative quantification of muscular isometric effort for these muscles across the CKC exercises, which may be applied to rehabilitation protocols for individuals with shoulder weakness. BACKGROUND: CKC exercises favor joint congruence, reduce shear load, and promote joint dynamic stability. Additionally, knowledge about glenohumeral and periscapular muscle activity elicited during CKC exercises may help clinicians to design protocols for shoulder rehabilitation. METHODS: Using surface electromyography, activation level was measured across 7 shoulder muscles in 20 healthy males, during the performance of a submaximal isometric wall press and bench press. Signals were normalized to the maximal voluntary isometric contraction, and, using paired t tests, data were analyzed between the exercises for each muscle. RESULTS: Compared to the wall press, the bench press elicited higher activity for most muscles, except for the upper trapezius. Levels of activity were usually low but were above 20% maximal voluntary isometric contraction for the serratus anterior on both tasks, and for the long head triceps brachii on the bench press. CONCLUSIONS: Both the bench press and wall press, as performed in this study, led to relatively low EMG activation levels for the muscles measured and may be considered for use in the early phases of rehabilitation. J Ort hop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(7):520-525, Epub 2 February 2011. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.3418

Pharmacology of the Human Saphenous Vein

Nowadays, the great saphenous vein is the vascular conduit that is most frequently employed in coronary and peripheral revascularization surgery. It is known that saphenous vein bypass grafts have shorter patency than arterial ones, partly because the wall of the normal saphenous vein has different structural and functional characteristics. The features of this vein can be affected by the large distention pressures it is submitted to during its preparation and insertion into the arterial system. Indeed, a vein graft is subjected to considerable changes in hemodynamic forces upon implantation into the arterial circulation, since it is transplanted from a non-pulsatile, low-pressure, low-flow environment with minimal shear stress to a high-pressure system with pulsatile flow, where it undergoes cyclic strain and elevated shear. These changes can be responsible for functional and morphological alterations in the vessel wall, culminating in intima hyperproliferation and atherosclerotic degeneration, which contribute to early graft thrombosis. This review has followed a predetermined strategy for updating information on the human saphenous vein (HSV). Besides presenting the aspects relative to the basic pharmacology, this text also includes surgical aspects concerning HSV harvesting, the possible effects of the major groups of cardiovascular drugs on the HSV, and finally the interference of major cardiovascular diseases in the vascular reactivity of the HSV.

Effects of Ipratropium on Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm

Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) is the transient narrowing of the airways that follows vigorous exercise. Ipratropium bromide may be used to prevent EIB, but its effect varies among individuals. We hypothesized that time of administration of ipratropium interferes with its action. This was a prospective, double-blind, cross-over study carried out to evaluate the bronchoprotective and bronchodilatory effect of ipratropium at different times of day. The study consisted of 4 exercise challenge tests (2 at 7 am and 2 at 6 pm). In the morning, one of the tests was performed after placebo administration and the other one after ipratropium (80 mu g) and the two tests (placebo and ipratropium) were repeated in the evening. Twenty-one patients with severe or moderate asthma and previous confirmation of EIB were enrolled in this prospective trial. The bronchodilatory effect of ipratropium was 0.25 +/- 0.21 L or 13.11 +/- 10.99 % (p = 0.001 compared to baseline values) in the morning, and 0.14 +/- 0.25 L or 7.25 +/- 11.37 % (p > 0.05) in the evening. In the morning, EIB was 0.58 +/- 0.29 L on the placebo day and 0.38 +/- 0.22 L on the treatment day (p = 0.01). In the evening, EIB was 0.62 +/- 0.28 L on the placebo day and 0.51 +/- 0.35 L on the treatment day (p > 0.05). We suggest that the use of ipratropium for the treatment of asthma and EIB should take into consideration the time of administration.

BisGMA/TEGDMA ratio and filler content effects on shrinkage stress

Objective. To investigate the contributions of BisGMA:TEGDMA and filler content on polymerization stress, along with the influence of variables associated with stress development, namely, degree of conversion, reaction rate, shrinkage, elastic modulus and loss tangent for a series of experimental dental composites. Methods. Twenty formulations with BisGMA: TEGDMA ratios of 3: 7, 4: 6, 5: 5, 6: 4 and 7: 3 and barium glass filler levels of 40, 50, 60 or 70 wt% were studied. Polymerization stress was determined in a tensilometer, inserting the composite between acrylic rods fixed to clamps of a universal test machine and dividing the maximum load recorded by the rods cross-sectional area. Conversion and reaction rate were determined by infra-red spectroscopy. Shrinkage was measured by mercury dilatometer. Modulus was obtained by three-point bending. Loss tangent was determined by dynamic nanoindentation. Regression analyses were performed to estimate the effect of organic and inorganic contents on each studied variable, while a stepwise forward regression identified significant variables for polymerization stress. Results. All variables showed dependence on inorganic concentration and monomeric content. The resin matrix showed a stronger influence on polymerization stress, conversion and reaction rate, whereas filler fraction showed a stronger influence on shrinkage, modulus and loss tangent. Shrinkage and conversion were significantly related to polymerization stress. Significance. Both the inorganic filler concentration and monomeric content affect polymerization stress, but the stronger influence of the resin matrix suggests that it may be possible to reduce stress by modifying resin composition without sacrificing filler content. The main challenge is to develop formulations with low shrinkage without sacrificing degree of conversion. (C) 2011 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of light exposure time on composite resin hardness after root reinforcement using translucent fibre post

Objectives: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the Vickers hardness (VHN) of a Light Core (Bisco) composite resin after root reinforcement, according to the light exposure time, region of intracanal reinforcement and lateral distance from the light-transmitting fibre post. Methods: Forty-five 17-mm long roots were used. Twenty-four hours after obturation, the root canals were emptied to a depth of 12 mm and the root dentine was artificially flared to produce a 1 mm space between the fibre post and the canal walls. The roots were bulk restored with the composite resin, which was photoactivated through the post for 40 s (G1, control), 80 s (G2) or 120 s (G3). Twenty-four hours after post-cementation, the specimens were sectioned transversely into three slices at depths of 2, 6 and 10 mm, corresponding to the coronal, middle and apical regions of the reinforced root. Composite VHN was measured as the average of three indentations (100 g/15 s) in each region at lateral distances of 50, 200 and 350 mu m from the cement/post-interface. Results: Three-way analysis of variance (alpha = 0.05) indicated that the factors time, region and distance influenced the hardness and that the interaction time x region was statistically significant (p = 0.0193). Tukey`s test showed that the mean VHN values for G1 (76.37 +/- 8.58) and G2 (74.89 +/- 6.28) differed significantly from that for G3 (79.5 +/- 5.18). Conclusions: Composite resin hardness was significantly lower in deeper regions of root reinforcement and in lateral areas distant from the post. Overall, a light exposure time of 120 s provided higher composite hardness than the shorter times (40 and 80 s). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Diffusion modeling of percutaneous absorption kinetics: 2. Finite vehicle volume and solvent deposited solids

The diffusion model for percutaneous absorption is developed for the specific case of delivery to the skin being limited by the application of a finite amount of solute. Two cases are considered; in the first, there is an application of a finite donor (vehicle) volume, and in the second, there are solvent-deposited solids and a thin vehicle with a high partition coefficient. In both cases, the potential effect of an interfacial resistance at the stratum corneum surface is also considered. As in the previous paper, which was concerned with the application of a constant donor concentration, clearance limitations due to the viable eqidermis, the in vitro sampling rate, or perfusion rate in vivo are included. Numerical inversion of the Laplace domain solutions was used for simulations of solute flux and cumulative amount absorbed and to model specific examples of percutaneous absorption of solvent-deposited solids. It was concluded that numerical inversions of the Laplace domain solutions for a diffusion model of the percutaneous absorption, using standard scientific software (such as SCIENTIST, MicroMath Scientific software) on modern personal computers, is a practical alternative to computation of infinite series solutions. Limits of the Laplace domain solutions were used to define the moments of the flux-time profiles for finite donor volumes and the slope of the terminal log flux-time profile. The mean transit time could be related to the diffusion time through stratum corneum, viable epidermal, and donor diffusion layer resistances and clearance from the receptor phase. Approximate expressions for the time to reach maximum flux (peak time) and maximum flux were also derived. The model was then validated using reported amount-time and flux-time profiles for finite doses applied to the skin. It was concluded that for very small donor phase volume or for very large stratum corneum-vehicle partitioning coefficients (e.g., for solvent deposited solids), the flux and amount of solute absorbed are affected by receptor conditions to a lesser extent than is obvious for a constant donor constant donor concentrations. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:504-520, 2001.

Effect of changing data collection parameters on statistical motor unit number estimates

The effect of number of samples and selection of data for analysis on the calculation of surface motor unit potential (SMUP) size in the statistical method of motor unit number estimates (MUNE) was determined in 10 normal subjects and 10 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We recorded 500 sequential compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) at three different stable stimulus intensities (10–50% of maximal CMAP). Estimated mean SMUP sizes were calculated using Poisson statistical assumptions from the variance of 500 sequential CMAP obtained at each stimulus intensity. The results with the 500 data points were compared with smaller subsets from the same data set. The results using a range of 50–80% of the 500 data points were compared with the full 500. The effect of restricting analysis to data between 5–20% of the CMAP and to standard deviation limits was also assessed. No differences in mean SMUP size were found with stimulus intensity or use of different ranges of data. Consistency was improved with a greater sample number. Data within 5% of CMAP size gave both increased consistency and reduced mean SMUP size in many subjects, but excluded valid responses present at that stimulus intensity. These changes were more prominent in ALS patients in whom the presence of isolated SMUP responses was a striking difference from normal subjects. Noise, spurious data, and large SMUP limited the Poisson assumptions. When these factors are considered, consistent statistical MUNE can be calculated from a continuous sequence of data points. A 2 to 2.5 SD or 10% window are reasonable methods of limiting data for analysis. Muscle Nerve 27: 320–331, 2003