Copper(II) complex-loaded castor oil-based nanostructured lipid carriers used against Mycobacterium tuberculosis : Development, characterisation, in vitro and in vivo biological assays.

A copper(II) complex-loaded castor oil-based nanostructured lipid carrier was evaluated to enhance the poor water solubility of antimicrobial compounds, improving their biological properties and antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Nanostructured lipid carriers were composed of the castor oil, polyoxyethylene 40 stearate and caprylic/capric triglyceride, poloxamer 407, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and three different copper(II) complexes. The systems were ultrasonicated at an amplitude of 8% for 20 min and an ice bath was used throughout the procedure. The blank nanostructured lipid carrier (F5) and nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with copper(II) complex 1, 2 and 3 (F5.1, F5.2 and F5.3, respectively) for 45 days presented values of mean diameter, poly dispersity index and zeta potential ranging from 186 to 199 nm, 0.14 to 0.2 and 24 to 30 mV, respectively. Atomic force microscopy indicated that the nanostructured lipid carriers were distributed at the nanoscale, corroborating the mean diameter data. Differential scanning calorimetry determined the melting points of the constituents of the nanostructured lipid carriers. The antimicrobial activity of copper(II) complexloaded F5 against M. tuberculosis H37Rv showed better anti-tuberculosis activity than the free complexes. In vivo biological assays of complex-loaded F5 demonstrated reduced toxicity. Our results suggest that nanostructured lipid carriers could be a potential nanotechnological strategy to optimise tuberculosis treatment.

Low validity of predictive equations for calculating resting energy expenditure in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Predictive equations are the main clinical tools for determining resting energy expenditure (REE). However, their adequate use in overweight and obese individuals is unclear. Thus, we investigated the best predictive equations for estimating REE in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: Eleven analyses were performed with prediction equations (pREE) based on anthropometric parameters in 30 overweight or obese women with PCOS without other chronic diseases. The measured REE (mREE) was calculated by indirect calorimetry. The validity of the equations was investigated by comparison, accuracy and agreement tests between pREE and mREE at both the individual and group level. RESULTS: Four analyses were similar to those of mREE, and smallest mean differences were observed for the World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/United Nations University (WHO/FAO/UNU) considering weight (W) [0.07 (1.13) MJ (16 [270] kcal)]. Individual accuracy was greater than 50% for Harris and Benedict, Müller and Lazzer equations. The percentage of REE underestimation ranged between 16.7% and 73.3%, whereas higher rates of overestimation were observed in the De Luis (66.7%) and Ireton-Jones (43.3%) equations. Mean bias at the group level was lowest in the WHO/FAO/UNU W and WHO/FAO/UNU considering weight and height (WH), Müller and Lazzer equations (-2.8 to 0.5). The WHO/FAO/UNU W and WHO/FAO/UNU WH formulas were optimal in individual agreement (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: FAO/WHO/UNU W equations may estimate the REE in overweight and obese women with PCOS. However, the low individual accuracy and agreement in relation to mREE suggest caution regarding when to use the formula to perform an individual nutritional plan.

Patterns of serologic response to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Brazilians with different clinical forms of HIV infection.

In order to investigate the IgG HIV-1 antibodies reactivity to structural components of the virus, 85 sera from infected Brazilians, comprising the total spectrum of HIV infection, were analysed by Western blot assay. The sera were confirmed as being positive to HIV with enzyme linked immuno assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). Although the sera from patients reacted less intensively to the gag polypeptide of 55 KDa, no distinctive antigen reaction patterns were observed between sera patients with different clinical forms. Because of the higher frequency of reactivity to the gag p24 in AIDS patients, the patterns of anti-HIV IgG responses are similar to those observed in their African counterparts.