Effects of an aglycone-rich biotransformed soybean extract in human endothelial cells.

Estrogen replacement therapy is not thought to be a safe treatment for prevention of cardiovascular disease in menopausal women; isoflavones are a possible alternative. Estrogen produces beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system by enhancing production of nitric oxide, a vasoprotective and antiatherosclerotic agent. Estrogen-like compounds such as isoflavones are also suggested for increasing nitric oxide production. Isoflavones are present mainly in soy foods as glucosides, but soy isoflavone aglycones, the biologically active estrogen-like compounds, are absorbed faster and in higher amounts than their glucoside derivatives and show higher biological activity, implying that they may be more effective in preventing chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease. We evaluated an extract of soybeans fermented by Aspergillus awamori on which polyphenol glucosides were biotransformed to aglycone forms on production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 and endothelin-1 in vitro in human endothelial cells, comparing it with a non-fermented extract. Bioconverted soybean extracts enhanced endothelin-1, nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production, while the unfermented extract only enhanced endothelin-1 production. Thus, only the aglycone-rich forms of soybean extracts were able to increase nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 production, demonstrating that, in endothelial cells in vitro, they may be usable as therapeutic agents against the development of atherosclerosis.

Effects of phytoestrogens derived from soy bean on expression of adhesion molecules on HUVEC.

BACKGROUND: The risks of hormone replacement therapy have led to a search for new alternatives such as phytoestrogens, plant compounds with estrogen-like biological activity. Isoflavones are the phytoestrogens most extensively studied and can be found in soybean, red clover and other plants. Due to this estrogen-like activity, phytoestrogens can have some effect on atherosclerosis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) have been extensively used to study the biology and pathobiology of human endothelial cells and most of the knowledge acquired is due to experiments with cultures of these cells. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the phytoestrogen extracts from Glycine max soy bean, genistein, formononetin, biochanin A and daidzein, as well as a mixture of these extracts (Mix), on expression of adhesion molecules, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin, by endothelial cell HUVEC, stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. METHODS: HUVEC were cultured in medium EBM(2), pretreated with isoflavones for 24 and 48 h and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide; in addition, isoflavones were added, after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide, to HUVEC. We evaluated the production of VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin on cell surface, by cell-based enzyme immunoassay, and of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 and sE-selectin in culture supernatant, by ELISA. RESULTS: Genistein, formononetin, biochanin A and daidzein, as well as the Mix were able to reduce VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin on cell surface and in culture supernatant. Conclusion Isoflavones extracted from Glycine max soy bean, in vitro, presented antiatherogenic effects, reducing the expression of adhesion molecules and acting as preventive agents as well as therapeutic agents.

Third-generation progestogen type influences hemostatic changes caused by oral contraceptives in Brazilian women.

We compared the effects of two third-generation progestogens, desogestrel (DSG) and gestodene (GSD), on coagulation and fibrinolysis in Brazilian users of oral contraceptives (OCs). Forty-six women were evaluated before treatment and after six cycles of treatment. The coagulation, anticoagulant, and fibrinolytic systems were investigated. During the use of the DSG-containing OC, the activity of factors VII, VIII, IX, X, and XII increased significantly whereas the GSD-containing OC caused no changes in coagulation parameters. Concerning the anticoagulant pathways, the DSG-containing OC increased protein C levels and decreased total protein S levels, and the GSD-containing OC only decreased total protein S. Both OCs increased plasminogen activity, although the DSG-containing OC increased fibrin degradation products levels and decreased the tissue plasminogen activator antigen. In conclusion, we have found that in Brazilian women the effects of DSG and GSD on hemostatic parameters are different and, therefore, third-generation progestogens may not contribute equally to the thrombotic risk.

Effects of two oral contraceptives, containing 30 or 20 microg of ethinyl estradiol in combination with gestodene, on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in Brazilian women.

OBJECTIVE: Blood coagulation and fibrinolytic variables were evaluated in 46 Brazilian women treated with either of two monophasic oral contraceptives (OC), containing 30 or 20 microg of ethinyl estradiol, and 75 microg of gestodene. METHODS: The effects on procoagulants, anticoagulants, pro-fibrinolytics and antifibrinolytics and fibrin turnover were evaluated after treatment for six consecutive cycles, the impact of reduction of ethinyl estradiol dosage on these effects being assessed. RESULTS: The OC containing 30 microg of ethinyl estradiol significantly increased the activities of factors VIII and X, whereas the one containing 20 microg of ethinyl estradiol caused no changes in clotting factors. Neither treatment altered fibrinogen levels or factor VII, IX or XII activity. There were no changes in antithrombin levels, but treatment with 30 microg ethinyl estradiol increased protein C levels and treatment with 20 microg decreased total protein S levels. Concerning the fibrinolytic parameters, both OCs increased plasminogen activity, whereas no changes in PAI-1, t-PA, alpha-2-antiplasmin or fibrin degradation products were observed. The reduction in ethinyl estradiol dosage from 30 microg to 20 microg eliminated the effects on factors VIII and X. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the OC studied did not cause sufficient changes to indicate that there may be a correlation between these laboratory alterations and clinical results. The lack of reports concerning the hemostatic effects of OCs on Brazilian women hinders comparison of the present data with those obtained for other ethnic groups, at different geographical locations, and emphasizes the importance of such a study for future epidemiological investigation of the prothrombotic effects of OCs in Brazilian women.

In vitro activity of antimycotic agents determined by E-test method against vaginal Candida species.

Vaginal candidiasis continues to be a common cause of vaginal discharge, pruritus and other local complaints in women worldwide. Although numerous antimycotic agents are available for the treatment of yeast vaginitis there is little comparative data on the in vitro activity of these drugs. The objectives of this study were to isolate and identify the Candida species in the vagina and anus of patients treated in a gynaecology clinic, as well as determine the susceptibility to azolic compounds measured by the E-test method. Vaginal and rectal swabs were collected from 80 adult non-pregnant patients, seen at a gynaecological clinic, aged 18-59 years, with sexual activity, with and without vaginitis. The swabs were processed by methods routinely used for the detection of pathogenic yeasts. The susceptibility of the isolates to fluconazole, ketoconazole and itraconazole, was measured by the agar diffusion method (E-test), using RPM1 1,640 medium with 2% glucose and phosphate buffer. Candida species (33) strains were isolated from 17 patients at similar proportions from both anatomical sites, and 12 patients harboured 24 strains of C. albicans in the vaginal and rectal tracts. Twenty one percent of the strains of C. albicans were resistant to ketoconazole, 54% were resistant to itraconazole and 0% were resistant to fluconazole. The sensitivity of strains isolated from the two sites were similar, indicating that these are strains of the same phenotype.

Effects of oral contraceptives in vaginal cytology.

Many literature studies have shown that long-term use of oral contraceptives (OC) is associated with lack of protection of the epithelium of the uterine cervix. Forty-five patients, from 18 to 35 years old, users of two contraceptive formulations, of different estrogenic concentration, took part in this study as volunteers to evaluate the predisposition of the cervix to pathologies. The results found before OC use were 11% of Chlamydia trachomatis infection and 13% of HPV infection. These pathologies were correctly treated and after 5 months of OC use we found total remission of Chlamydia trachomatis infection and 4% of persistent HPV infection. These data lead us to conclude that the OC studied here interfered very little with the presented pathologic results. The risk factors that we considered relevant were: 1) age group (the patients that presented HPV and C. trachomatis infections were young university students); 2) lifestyle (most patients certified that they did not combine the use of barrier contraceptives with the use of OC); 3) multiple sexual partners; 4) low socioeconomic condition.

Interaction of bovine alpha2 macroglobulin with proteinases

Alpha2, Macroglobulina, uma proteína inibidora de proteases, foi isolada do plasma bovino. O processo de purificaçäo foi monitorado por imunodifusäo e imunoeletroforese cruzada com soro anti alpha2M-humana. Para as determinaçöes quantitativas foi preparado um soro anti alpha2M bovino. A preparaçäo mais pura de alpha2M foi obtida por cromatografia de afinidade e usada como padräo primário na imunodifusäo radial de Mancini. Preparaçöes de alpha2M foram usadas em testes de ligaçäo com tripsina e plasmina (tituladas com NPGB). Nos testes de ligaçäo 50 por cento de plasmina e 35 por cento de tripsina foram "protegidas" pela alpha2M. Näo foi possível determinar se houve incidência na ligaçäo ou se a perda de atividade ocorreu por alteraçöes na afinidade do complexo alpha2M-protease, em relaçäo aos substratos usados

Urokinase-plasminogen activator from bovine plasma obtained by cellulose sulfate precipitation

Plasma bovino tratado com sulfato de celulose produz, em placas de fibrina, múltiplas formas de ativadores de plasminogênio. A fraçäo fibrinoliticamente mais ativa foi isolada por eletroforese preparativa. Testes amidolíticos com substratos cromogênicos e testes de imunodifusäo radial com anticorpos monoclonais revelaram que o ativador de plasminogênio isolado neste trabalho possui propriedades semelhantes às da uroquinase