Effect of Temperature, Pressure, and Type of Gas Injected on the Formation and Decay of Mineral Oil-Based Foams.

In three-phase gravity separators used in gas and oil production, foaming can occur by either depressurization or injection of gas in the equipment. This formed foam can be harmful, causing various problems such as liquid carry-over, gas carry-under, decreased capacity, and difficulty in level measurement. The mechanism of foam formation by gas injection in separators motivated the present study. Thus, this work proposes the analysis of the influence of certain physical-chemical parameters such as temperature (20-40 °C), pressure (1-10 bar), and types of gases (nitrogen and methane) on the formation of the column and stability of the foam formed, in ISO14 mineral oil + sodium laureth sulfate + water, through gas injection in separator conditions. To carry out this analysis, an experimental apparatus was designed and assembled consisting of a transparent foam formation cell of 0.5 m height and 5 cm internal diameter. Parameters such as foamability, foaminess, and the collapse curve were also evaluated to characterize the foam formed. In addition, simplified models of foam formation and decay by gas injection were proposed based on models already available in the literature, which were validated with the experimentally obtained results. The experimental results showed good agreement when compared to the literature, referring to the behavior of temperature (higher temperature, lower stability), pressure (higher pressure, higher stability), and type of injected gas (dependency on solubility). In addition, maximum errors of 26% (in height) and 11% (decay phase) were obtained for the formation and decay models, respectively.

Nebulized and intraperitoneal ketamine have equivalent antidepressant-like effect in the forced swim and tail suspension tests in mice.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating illness that affects millions of people worldwide. Currently available antidepressants often take weeks to months to reach their full effect, which leads to an increased risk of suicidal behavior in patients with MMD. Intranasally, esketamine has emerged as an alternative to current antidepressants because of its rapid onset and long-lasting effects in patients with MDD. Animal models are useful for the initial pharmacological screening and for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the effects of new drugs with potential against MDD. There is a lack of data on alternative routes of drug administration, either oral or injectable, that can be used in preclinical studies. This study aimed to test whether ketamine has antidepressant-like effects in mice when administered via nebulization using a low-cost apparatus. When mice whose depressive-like behavior was induced by corticosterone were treated with nebulized ketamine at concentrations of 1.3, 2.6, and 5.2 mg/mL, immobility was reduced by 38.6 %, 62.0 %, and 61.1 %, respectively, in the forced swimming test (FST) and 43.6 %, 42.1 %, and 57.9 %, respectively, in the tail suspension test (TST). When depression-like behavior was induced by dexamethasone, nebulization with ketamine reduced immobility by 79.7 %, 49.2 %, and 44.4 % in the FST and 80.9 %, 71.4 %, and 80.4 %, respectively, in the TST. When depression-like behavior was induced by the association between dexamethasone and unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) exposure, immobility was reduced by 26.1 %, 55.3 %, and 19.1 % in FST. Mice treated with nebulized ketamine did not show significant changes in the distance covered or in the time spent moving in the open field test. The efficacy of intraperitoneal and nebulized ketamine is equivalent, which shows that nebulization can be an alternative inexpensive route of drug administration for behavioral studies in rodents.

In vitro and in silico studies of 8(17),12E,14-labdatrien-18-oic acid in airways smooth muscle relaxation: new molecular insights about its mechanism of action.

In the field of experimental pharmacology, researchers continuously investigate new relaxant agents of the airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs), since the pathophysiology of respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, involves hyperresponsiveness and changes in ASMC homeostasis. In this scenario, labdane-type diterpenes, like forskolin (FSK), are a class of compounds known for their relaxing action on smooth muscle cells (SMCs), being this phenomenon related to the direct activation of AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. Considering the continuous effort of our group to study the mechanism of action and prospecting for compounds isolated from natural sources, in this paper, we presented how the diterpene 8(17),12E,14-labdatrien-18-oic acid (LBD) promotes relaxant effect on ASMC, performing in vitro experiments using isolated guinea pig trachea and in silico molecular docking/dynamics simulations. In vitro experiments showed that in the presence of aminophylline, FSK and LBD had their relaxant effect potentiated (EC50 from 1.4 ± 0.2 × 10-5 M to 1.5 ± 0.3 × 10-6 M for LBD and from 2.0 ± 0.2 × 10-7 M to 6.4 ± 0.4 × 10-8 M for FSK) while in the presence of Rp-cAMPS this effect was attenuated (EC50 from 1.4 ± 0.2 × 10-5 M to 3 × 10-4 M for LBD and from 2.0 ± 0.2 × 10-7 to 3.1 ± 1.0 × 10-6 M for FSK). Additionally, in silico simulations evidenced that the lipophilic character of LBD is probably responsible for its stability on AC binding site. LBD presented two preferential orientations, where the double bonds of the isoprene moiety as well as the unique polar group (carboxylic acid) in this compound form important anchoring points. In this sense, we consider that the LBD can interact stabilizing the catalytic dimmer of AC as the FSK, although less efficiently.

Investigation of the relaxing effect of a camphor nanoemulsion on rat isolated trachea.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that targeting lower airways, being characterized by bronchial smooth muscle hyper responsiveness and mucus hypersecretion. Asthma is considered the most common respiratory disease in the world, affecting approximately 235 million individuals. The main therapy sometimes fails to establish clinical improvement in patients, which leads to a constant search for new alternatives. Camphor is a transparent solid monoterpene with a strong aroma, which due to its high lipophilicity is insoluble in water. Nanostructured carrier systems have shown promise as a delivery system for lipophilic compounds such as monoterpenes. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the relaxant effect of nanoemulsified camphor (NEC), as well as the mechanism of action of that monoterpene, in isolated rat trachea. The results obtained demonstrated that NEC promote relaxation of the isolated rat trachea when smooth muscle contraction was induced by both carbachol (CCh) and KCl, presenting a pCE50 of 2.25 ± 0.27 and 3.30 ± 0.07, respectively. In the presence of dexamethasone (DEXA), tetraethylammonium (TEA), glibenclamide (GLIB), 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[4,3,-a]-quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ) and ruthenium red (RR) there was a significant difference in at least one of the evaluated pharmacological parameters, such as concentration-response curves shape, Emax or pCE50. As conclusion, NEC may be involved with ß-adrenergic receptors, channels for K+ sensitive to ATP (KATP) or Channels for K+ opened by Ca2+ (KCa), increase in prostanoids and with receptor channel with transient potential (TRPv). In conclusion, ß-adrenergic receptors, prostanoids, nitric oxide (NO), ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP), Ca2+-opened K+ channels (KCa), and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V (TRPV) are involved in the relaxing effect of NEC. In addition, the mechanism of action of NEC may be involved with the signal transduction pathway Nitric Oxide/soluble guanylyl cyclase/cGMP/cGMP-activated protein kinase. NEC, therefore, demonstrates spasmolytic activity when presenting tracheal relaxation compared to CCh and KCl contracturants.

New insights on relaxant effects of (-)-borneol monoterpene in rat aortic rings.

The monoterpene alcohol (-)-borneol has many biological effects such as sedative, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-nociceptive, antithrombotic and vasorelaxant effects. Our objective in this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of (-)-borneol and determine its vasorelaxant effect. (-)-Borneol was tested on isolated aortic rings contracted with PE (10-6  m). This study was performed in the absence or in the presence of endothelium, L-NAME (100 µm), indomethacin (10 µm), TEA (1 and 10 mm), 4-AP (1 mm) or glibenclamide (1 mm) to assess the participation of EDRF, nitric oxide, prostanoids and potassium channels on the relaxing effect of (-)-borneol. In this work, (-)-borneol induced a relaxant effect in aortic rings, with and without endothelium, in a concentration-dependent manner. The pharmacological characterization obtained using L-NAME, indomethacin, TEA, 4-AP and glibenclamide demonstrates that the effect of (-)-borneol was modified in the presence of L-NAME, indomethacin and glibenclamide showing that these signal transduction pathways are involved in the relaxing effect of the monoterpene. (-)-Borneol has a vasorelaxant effect that depends on the presence of vascular endothelium, with the participation of nitric oxide and prostanoids. Also, (-)-borneol displayed a direct action on the vascular smooth muscle, greatly dependent on KATP channels.

Beneficial Effects of Applying Low-Level Laser Therapy to Surgical Wounds After Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is a successful method for weight loss in cases of morbid obesity; however, as an invasive procedure, surgical complications may occur. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been increasingly used due to its effectiveness in controlling the inflammatory response, accelerating tissue repair, and reducing pain. The objective of this study was to investigate photobiomodulation effects after bariatric surgery and determine the laser actions during the inflammatory process, wound healing (clinical observation), and analgesia. METHODS: This study was a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in which 85 patients underwent Roux en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) by conventional techniques (i.e., open surgery). Patients were divided into two groups and were irradiated with LLLT at 10 different points through the surgical scar in three sessions of applications: the laser group (laser-on) consisted of 43 patients who received the CW diode laser (MMOptics), while the placebo group (laser-off) consisted of 42 patients who were treated by the same protocol but with a disabled laser. Temperature was measured by a digital thermometer in both groups, and pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale for pain. Biochemical analysis and digital images were used to document and evaluate the inflammatory response as well as tissue repair process at the surgical wound site. RESULTS: Patients in the laser group demonstrated diminished wound temperature as erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) compared with the placebo group, indicating better inflammatory process control as well as improved wound healing and reduced pain. CONCLUSIONS: LLLT applied with the described protocol led to a decrease by biochemical markers and wound temperature compared with the placebo, which indicated that LLLT was able to control the inflammatory process; in addition, seroma and pain were reduced and cicatrization was improved by this preventive procedure.

Comorbidities remission after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for morbid obesity is sustained in a long-term follow-up and correlates with weight regain.

BACKGROUND: Obesity-related comorbidities are treated by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) due to weight loss and intestinal hormone changes. Few studies report the evolution of these comorbidities in a long-term follow-up, especially if weight regain is present. This study aims to analyze: (1) the resolution of obesity-related comorbidities after RYGB in a long-term follow-up and (2) its relationship to weight regain. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 140 patients submitted to RYGB for morbid obesity for at least 5 years (mean follow-up 90 months). Mean body mass index (BMI) before operation was 52 kg/m(2), at nadir weight 29 kg/m(2), and at last follow-up 33 kg/m(2). The comorbidities diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, arthropathy, and infertility were classified as resolved, improved, unchanged, and worsened at nadir weight that happened between the first and second year and after five or more years of surgery. For each comorbidity, we compared the changes in the distribution of patients in the categories and the correlation of it with weight loss at the nadir and final weight. RESULTS: BMI was significantly different in the three periods. Comorbidities resolution was sustained in a long-term follow-up for diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and infertility. Comorbidities status was directly related to the weight loss for all comorbidities except infertility. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that comorbidities remission after RYGB is sustained in a long-term follow-up. Weight regain is linked to worse results for all comorbidities except infertility.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oil from leaves of Croton heliotropiifolius in different seasons of the year

ABSTRACT This paper reports the first study of the variation of the chemical composition and abundance of the essential oil of Croton heliotropiifolius, in four seasons, and the evaluation of its antibacterial activity. Essential oil obtained from leaves of C. heliotropiifolius were analyzed by GC/MS and evaluated against eight bacteria strains by broth microdilution method. The chemical constituents identified were the same in all samples, but with different proportions. The total percentages identified were 96.58% in summer, 92.08% in autumn, 98.44% in winter and 90.78% in spring. The majors constituents are β-caryophyllene, bicyclogermacrene, germacrene-D, limonene and 1,8-cineole. β-Caryophyllene was the major compound in all samples. The results of the antibacterial evaluations showed weak to moderate activity against the analyzed strains. In all analyzes was observed that essential oil sample collected in summer stands out from the others, displaying stronger activity against Gram-positive as Gram-negative bacteria.