Caesalpinia palmeri: First Report on the Phenolic Compounds Profile, Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Effect.

This study aimed to determine the phenolic compounds profile, antioxidant potential and cytotoxicity of extracts and fractions of Caesalpinia palmeri. Methanolic extracts were generated from C. palmeri berries, stems and flowers. The latter was subjected to liquid-liquid partition, obtaining hexane, ethyl acetate and residues fractions. Results showed that the flower extract and ethyl acetate fraction had a larger concentration of phenolic compounds (148.9 and 307.9 mg GAE/g, respectively), being ellagic acid (6233.57 and 19550.08 µg/g, respectively), quercetin-3-ß-glycoside (3023.85 and 8952.55 µg/g, respectively) and gallic acid (2212.98 and 8422.34 µg/g, respectively) the most abundant compounds. Flower extract and ethyl acetate fraction also presented the highest antioxidant capacity on all tested methods (DPPH, ABTS, ORAC and FRAP) and low cytotoxicity against ARPE-19 cells (IC50 >170 µg/mL). C. palmeri possessed high antioxidant potential, associated with the presence of phenolic compounds and low cytotoxicity, suggesting that they could represent an option to counter oxidative stress.

Aplicación de Biodentine en Endodoncia Regenerativa: Presentación de Tres Casos Clínicos / Application of Biodentine in Regenerative Endodontics: Presentation of Three Clinical Cases

El Biodentine es un material biocerámico y bioacti-vo que puede emplearse como sustituto activo de la dentina. Entre sus numerosos usos se incorpora su utilización como sellador del coágulo en los procedi-mientos endodónticos regenerativos, logrando me-jores propiedades con respecto al Gold standard. Se presenta la resolución clínica y radiográfica de tres situaciones clínicas, mediante la aplicación del proto-colo de los procedimientos endodónticos regenerati-vos, en los que se utilizó Biodentine como alternativa para el sellado del coágulo a nivel cérvico-radicular, en la obturación a nivel del límite amelocementario (AU)

Biodentine is a bio-ceramic and bioactive material that can be used as an active substitute for dentin. Its many uses include its use as a clot sealer in regenerative endodontic procedures, achieving better properties compared to the Gold standard. The clinical and radiographic resolution of three clinical situations is presented, by applying the protocol of regenerative endodontic procedures, where Biodentine was used as an alternative for sealing the clot at the cervical-radicular level in the obturation at the level of the cementoenamel limit (AU)

Design, synthesis, and time-gated cell imaging of carbon-bridged triangulenium dyes with long fluorescence lifetime and red emission.

Time-resolved fluorescence offers many advantages over normal steady-state detection and becomes increasingly important in bioimaging. However, only very few fluorophores with emission in the visible range and fluorescence lifetimes above 5 ns are available. In this work, we prepare a series of new aza/oxa-triangulenium dyes where one of the usual oxa or aza bridges is replaced by an isopropyl bridge. This leads to a significant redshift of fluorescence with only moderate reductions of quantum yields and a unique long fluorescence lifetime. The fluorescence of the isopropyl bridged diazatriangulenium derivative CDATA+ is red-shifted by 50 nm (1400 cm-1) as compared to the oxygen-bridged DAOTA+ chromophore and has intense emission in the red region (600-700 nm) with a quantum yield of 61%, and a fluorescence lifetime of 15.8 ns in apolar solution. When the CDATA+ dye is used as cell stain, high photostability and efficient time-gated cell imaging is demonstrated.

Suplementação de glutamina em dietas elaboradas com ingredientes de origem vegetal e animal para pintos de corte / Supplementation of glutamine in diets with ingredients from animal and vegetable sources for broiler chicks

Foi avaliado o efeito da suplementação da glutamina em dietas contendo ingredientes de origem animal sobre o desempenho e a integridade intestinal de pintos de corte, criados até 21 dias de idade. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de combinações entre tipos de dieta, com ingredientes de origem vegetal ou vegetal+animal e suplementação de glutamina (0,0; 0,5; 1,0 e 2,0%). O delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso em arranjo fatorial 2x4, tipos de ração x percentagem de glutamina, com cinco repetições e 12 pintos por unidade experimental. Não houve efeito da interação tipo de dieta versus suplementação de glutamina sobre o desempenho, e os tratamentos não influenciaram o desempenho de pintos de corte. Houve efeito quadrático da suplementação de glutamina sobre o coeficiente de digestibilidade da proteína bruta. A suplementação com glutamina aumentou altura de vilos e profundidade de cripta no duodeno. A utilização de produtos de origem animal em dietas para pintos na fase inicial não prejudica o desempenho, e a inclusão de glutamina melhora a integridade intestinal.

The effect of glutamine supplementation in diets formulated with animal by-products on the performance and integrity of the small intestine of broiler chicks up to 21 days of age was evaluated. The treatments were the combination of types of diets (only with ingredients from a vegetal source or vegetal plus animal source) and levels of glutamine (0.0; 0.5; 1.0 and 2.0%). The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 2x4 factorial scheme (kinds of diets x levels of glutamine), with five replicates and 12 birds per experimental unit. No interaction between diets and glutamine supplementation and treatment effects on the performance traits were observed during the chick starter phase. There was a quadratic effect of glutamine on the crude protein digestibility coefficient. Birds supplemented with glutamine diets showed higher villus height and crypt depth in the duodenum. Broiler diets formulated with animal ingredients have no effect on chick performance during the initial phase, and glutamine supplementation improved the small intestine integrity.

Amphipols from A to Z.

Amphipols (APols) are short amphipathic polymers that can substitute for detergents to keep integral membrane proteins (MPs) water soluble. In this review, we discuss their structure and solution behavior; the way they associate with MPs; and the structure, dynamics, and solution properties of the resulting complexes. All MPs tested to date form water-soluble complexes with APols, and their biochemical stability is in general greatly improved compared with MPs in detergent solutions. The functionality and ligand-binding properties of APol-trapped MPs are reviewed, and the mechanisms by which APols stabilize MPs are discussed. Applications of APols include MP folding and cell-free synthesis, structural studies by NMR, electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, APol-mediated immobilization of MPs onto solid supports, proteomics, delivery of MPs to preexisting membranes, and vaccine formulation.

Structural differences in the two agonist binding sites of the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor revealed by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) from Torpedo marmorata carries two nonequivalent agonist binding sites at the alphadelta and alphagamma subunit interfaces. These sites have been characterized by time-resolved fluorescence with the partial nicotinic agonist dansyl-C(6)-choline (Dnscho). When bound to the detergent-solubilized receptor, the fluorescence lifetime distribution of Dnscho displays a characteristic signature, with four separable components at 0.2, 1.8, 7.2, and 18.3 ns, respectively. Competition experiments with the antagonist d-tubocurarine (dTC), known to bind preferentially to the alphagamma site, result in substantial changes of this signature, associated with a strong decrease in average fluorescence lifetime. Comparisons with two other competitive antagonists, alpha-conotoxin M1 and alpha-bungarotoxin, demonstrate that Dnscho binds with a similar affinity to the two sites but that the microenvironment of the probe is different for each site. Using a two-site binding model together with published equilibrium constants to describe the competitive binding of dTC and Dnscho, we reach a satisfactory description of the changes in fluorescence lifetimes and propose characteristic fluorescence parameters of the probe bound to each type of site. This analysis indicates that Dnscho at the alphadelta site is principally associated with a 8.7 ns lifetime, while it has a 20.2 ns major lifetime at the alphagamma site. Therefore, the observed fluorescence heterogeneity arises in large part from the structural differences of the two binding sites. As a result, this signal can be used to identify the binding preferences of competitive ligands of unknown pharmacology.

Condom use among high-risk women in Honduras: evaluation of an AIDS prevention program.

In 1988, the Honduran Ministry of Health initiated an intervention study designed to increase AIDS awareness and promote preventive behavior, especially condom use, among registered commercial sex workers (CSWs). The program consisted of weekly talks and free condom distribution to all CSWs who attended the sexually transmitted disease clinic during a 10-week period. Pre- and postintervention surveys were used to evaluate change in knowledge and condom use. Condom diaries were used to measure condom use during the program. One hundred thirty-four women who participated in the intervention completed the initial and follow-up surveys. There was a statistically significant increase in mean condom use from 64% to 70% of client contacts. Condom use recorded in diaries during the program period appeared even higher. Factors found to be associated with increased use postintervention include low baseline condom use and higher client fee. The reliability of the methods of measuring condom use and the implications of the findings for future intervention studies among sex workers and their clients are discussed.