Essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides and main components: activity against Leishmania, their mitochondria and other microorganisms.

Chenopodium ambrosioides is an aromatic herb used by native people to treat parasitic diseases. The aim of this work is to compare the in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of the essential oil (EO) from C. ambrosioides and its major components (ascaridole, carvacrol and caryophyllene oxide) and study their mechanism of action and activity against a panel of microorganism. Antileishmanial activity and cytotoxicity of the EO and major components was study. In addition, experiments to elucidate the mechanism of action were perform and activities against other microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and protozoa) were evaluate. All products were active against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania. Ascaridole exhibited the better antileishmanial activity and the EO the highest selectivity index. The exploration of the mechanism suggests that the products cause a breakdown of mitochondrial membrane potential and a modification of redox indexes. Only EO showed antiprotozoal effect against Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei; while no activity against bacteria and fungi was observed. Our results demonstrate the potentialities of EO in cellular and molecular system, which could be consider in future studies to develop new antileishmanial drugs with a wide anti-parasitic spectrum.

WITHDRAWN: Altered oxidative stress indexes related to disease progression marker in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients with antiretroviral therapy.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomag.2010.09.001. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.

Age-associated analysis of oxidative stress parameters in human plasma and erythrocytes.

Oxidative damage accumulation in macromolecules has been considered as a cause of cellular damage and pathology. Rarely, the oxidative stress parameters in healthy humans related to the individual age have been reported. The purpose of this study was to examine the redox status in plasma and erythrocytes of healthy individuals and determine correlations between these parameters and the aging process. The following parameters were used: malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PCO), 4-hydroxy-2,3-trans-nonenal (HNE), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and uric acid (UA) in blood and plasma samples of 194 healthy women and men of ages ranging from 18 to 84 years. The results indicate that the balance of oxidant and antioxidant systems in plasma shifts in favor of accelerated oxidation during ageing. That is demonstrated by increases of MDA, HNE, GSSG and by the slight decrease of erythrocytic GSH with age. As the content of UA is more determined by metabolic and nutritional influences than by the balance between prooxidants and antioxidants there was no significant age-related change observed. For plasma concentrations of HNE the first time age-dependent reference values for healthy humans are presented.

[Immunological characteristic of children vertically infected with HIV: a case-control study]. / Características inmunológicas de los niños infectados por vía vertical con el VIH: estudio de casos y controles.

HIV infection in children causes a serious immunodeficiency with special characteristics that distinguish it from the adult, causing a global immune deficit. This is a case-control study between Cuban paediatric patients infected with HIV by vertical transmission and a control group of supposedly healthy children. Both groups were characterized from the clinical point of view and markers were used for evaluating the immunologic and virologycal state. Clinically 75% of patients present a pattern of precocious progression; from the total, only two stayed asymptomatic. All HIV-infected children receive antirretroviral treatment and three of them present values of viral load bigger than 100,000 cp/mL. The immune alterations found in the HIV-infected children compared with healthy children were: a cellular immune depletion with diminished counts of lymphocyte subsets T CD4+, CD16+/CD56+ and CD19+, an increase in subsets of CD3+, CD8+, CD8+/CD38+, CD3+/ CD95+ and a hypergammaglobulinemia due to prevalence of immunoglobulin gamma IgG (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there were not significantly differences in the serum levels of both C3 and C4, as well as in the haemolytic activity of the classic and alternate activation pathways of the complement system. This finding allowed better attention and treatment of paediatric HIV patients.

Does mitochondrial dysfunction during antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus infection suggest antioxidant supplementation as a beneficial option?

Over the last few years, a relative decline of the morbidity and mortality of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in industrialised countries has been observed due to the use of a potent combined therapy known as high active antiretroviral therapies (HAARTs). It has led to a decrease of viral load and a quantitative and qualitative improvement of immune function in patients, especially CD4+ T-lymphocyte count, having as a consequence a decrease of infectious complications and a global clinical improvement. Besides the positive effects of HAARTs on immune and metabolic alterations during HIV infection, it has been reported that the commonly used drugs AZT, ddI, and ddC are toxic to hepatocytes. Recent reports continue to point to the mitochondria as targets for toxicity. The prevalence of these symptoms is continued during acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The effects of oxidative stress occurring as a consequence of mitochondrial toxicity may amplify some of the pathophysiological and phenotypic events during infection. Mitochondrial stabilisation and antioxidative strategies are possible new therapeutic aims since the antiretroviral treatment is prolonged with increased longevity from AIDS, which has become a more manageable chronic illness. The aim of the present review article is to summarize the current knowledge about mitochondrial dysfunction during HAART and its consequence for patients with chronic treatment. Oxidative stress may serve as one pathway for cellular damage in AIDS and its treatment. One important future goal is to prevent or attenuate the side effects of HAART so that improved disease management can be achieved.

Características inmunológicas de los niños infectados por vía vertical con el VIH: estudio de casos y controles / Immunological characteristic of HIV infected children by vertical way: cases and controls study

HIV infection in children conditions a serious immunodeficiency with special characteristic that distinguish it from the adult, causing a global immune deficit. This constitutes a cases and controls study between Cuban paediatric patients infected with HIV by vertical transmission and a control group of supposedly healthy children. The both groups were characterized from the clinical point of view and markers were used for evaluated the immunologic and virologycal state. Clinically 75% of patients present a pattern of precocious progression, from total only two stay asymptomatic. All HIV infected children receive antirretroviral treatment and three of them present values of viral load bigger than 100,000 cp/mL. The immune alterations found in the HIV infected children compared with healthy children were: a cellular immune depletion with diminish counts of lymphocytes subsets of T CD4+, CD16+/CD56 + and CD19+, an increase in subsets of CD3+, CD8+, CD8+/CD38+, CD3+/ CD95+ and a hipergammaglobulinemia to prevalence of immunoglobulin gamma IgG (p < 0.05). On the other hand, they were not significantly differences in the serum levels of both C3 and C4, as well as in the haemolytic activity of the roads classic and it alternates of the complement system. This finding allowed us to a better attention and treatment of paediatric HIV patients.

La infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en niños condiciona una grave inmunodeficiencia con características especiales que la distinguen del adulto, ocasionando un déficit inmune global. Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles de los pacientes pediátricos cubanos infectados por transmisión vertical con el VIH comparado con niños supuestamente sanos. Ambos grupos se caracterizaron desde el punto de vista clínico y se emplearon marcadores que evaluaron el estado inmunológico y virológico. Clínicamente 75% de los pacientes infectados por VIH presentan un patrón de progresión precoz, y dos se mantienen asintomáticos. A todos los niños infectados se les suministró tratamiento antirretroviral y tres presentan valores de carga viral mayores de 100,000 cp/mL. Las alteraciones inmunes encontradas en los pacientes VIH+ fueron: una inmunodepresión celular con conteos de subpoblaciones linfoides T CD4+, CD16+/CD56 + y CD 19+ disminuidas significativamente con respecto al grupo control (p < 0.05). Además, se encontró un aumento de linfocitos CD3+, CD8+, CD8+/CD38+, CD3+/CD95+ y una hipergammaglobulinemia a predominio de inmunoglobulina gamma IgG en la comparación estadística (p < 0.05). Por otra parte, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en los niveles séricos de C3 y C4, así como en la actividad hemolítica de las vías clásica y alterna del sistema del complemento. Este conocimiento nos permitió sentar pautas para contribuir al manejo y tratamiento de los pacientes pediátricos infectados por VIH.

Effect of increase of dietary micronutrient intake on oxidative stress indicators in HIV/AIDS patients.

Several recent studies in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients have identified micronutrient deficiencies as affecting progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and death. Although the mechanisms are not known, micronutrient deficiencies may exacerbate the oxidative stress induced by HIV. In addition, infection and its evolution likely lead to an increased requirement for nutritional micronutrients, especially antioxidants. To evaluate this, 40 relatively healthy, institutionalized HIV-infected individuals were recruited for assessment before or three months after fresh fruit and vegetable supply were increased due to seasonal supply. Seven-day dietary records were recorded at the beginning (December) and end of the three-month study period (March). Oxidative stress indices and CD4+, CD38+/CD8+, and CD95+ T-lymphocyte subsets were also measured at these times. No significant differences were found in calorie or protein intake across the study period, but vitamin A, C, and E intakes all increased. A number of redox indicators were modified (increase: total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione; and decrease: superoxide dismutase) during the study period. However, no change in malondialdehyde, hydroperoxides, or DNA damage was noted but a significant reduction in CD38+/CD8+ relative count was seen. Within the context and limitations of this study, the increase of dietary fruits and vegetables intake for three months had some beneficial effects on nutrition, systemic redox balance, and immune parameters in HIV-infected persons.

Oxidative stress in adult dengue patients.

An association between viral diseases and increased oxidative stress has been suggested. The time course of serum levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), peroxidation potential (PP), glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation measured as hydroperoxides, and malondyaldehyde and 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA), as well as antioxidant enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were measured in 22 serologically confirmed dengue patients. Most of the patients had dengue fever and three of them had dengue hemorrhagic fever. The redox parameters were compared with those of age- and sex- matched controls. No significant difference was observed for levels of GSH and TAS between patients and controls. Levels of PP, MDA + 4-HDA, and SOD were significantly higher. Levels of GPx and total hydroperoxides were significantly lower in patients in comparison with controls. These findings suggest that the alteration in redox status could result of increased oxidative stress and it may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Contribution to characterization of oxidative stress in HIV/AIDS patients.

Infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes persistent chronic inflammation. Viral Tat protein plays a role in the intracellular increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) thus increasing apoptotic index, mostly the one mediated by FAS/CD95, and depleting CD4+ T lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between an extensive array of redox status indices (glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxidation potential, total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total hydroperoxide (TH), DNA fragmentation) and relative CD4, CD95, CD38/CD8 T lymphocyte counts in HIV/AIDS patients compared to healthy subjects. Blood samples from 85 HIV/AIDS patients and 40 healthy subjects were tested by spectrophotometric techniques in order to measure oxidative stress indices, and by flow cytometry to quantify T cell subsets. Patients were divided in two groups according to CDC 1993 guidelines. CD95 and CD38 increase paralleled the severity of HIV infection. Both a reduction of GSH levels and an increase in MDA and TH levels were detected in the plasma of HIV+ patients. These patients also showed an increase of DNA fragmentation in lymphocytes as well as a significant (P<0.05) reduction of GPx and an increase in SOD activity in erythrocytes. Relatively to the control group, HIV-infected patients had significantly differences in global indices of total antioxidant status. These results corroborate that substantial oxidative stress occurs during HIV infection. To our knowledge this study is the first relating oxidative stress indices with both CD38/CD8 and CD95 lymphocytes subsets.

Estrés oxidativo en la infección por el virus linfotrópico de células T humano de tipo I (vlth-I) / Oxidative stress in the infection caused by the human Tcell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1)

Se reportó lo más actualizado en relación con el virus linfotrópico de células T humano de tipo I (VLTH-I), que es un retrovirus asociado entre otras enfermedades a la leucemia de células T del adulto y la paraparesia espástica tropical. La patología es el resultado de la actividad de la proteína viral Tax que participa en el incremento de la producción de especies reactivas del oxígeno requeridas para la activación de NF-kB, y que transactiva la expresión de genes virales y celulares que resulta en la transformación celular, la inmortalización y la enfermedad. La caracterización de estos mecanismos contribuye a una mejor comprensión de la fisiopatología de la infección y en la perspectiva de intervención terapéutica preventiva