In Vitro Anthelmintic Activity of Methanolic Extract from Caesalpinia coriaria J. Willd Fruits against Haemonchus contortus Eggs and Infective Larvae.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro lethal effect of a methanolic extract (ME) from Caesalpinia coriaria fruits against Haemonchus contortus eggs and infective larvae. The anthelmintic activity was assessed using the egg hatching inhibition assay (EHI) and the mortality test. The ME was assessed using five concentrations as follows: 6.15, 3.12, 1.56, and 0.78 mg/mL to eggs and 150, 100, 75, and 50 mg/mL to larvae, respectively. Ivermectin (5 mg/mL) was used as positive control and 4% methanol and distilled water were used as negative controls. The data of ovicidal and larvicidal effect were analyzed with a completely randomized design through ANOVA analysis using the general linear model (GLM) and lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) were estimated through a Probit analysis using the SAS program. A clear ME increased concentration dependence effect was observed in the EHI and mortality tests. The highest activity of the methanolic extract was observed at the highest concentration (P < 0.05) to obtain a similar effect to the positive control (ivermectin), with LC50 = 78.38 and 0.00064 mg/mL and LC90 =235.63 and 0.024 mg/mL, respectively, for larvae and eggs. The results indicate that the C. coriaria fruit ME possesses in vitro ovicidal and larvicidal properties (gallotannins: methyl gallate) against H. contortus that needs to be investigated more in vivo for the control of gastroenteric nematodes in ruminants.

Biorretroinformación en control de activación en tenis: estudio de caso desde el modelo Izof / Biofeedback in activation control in tennis: a case study from the Izof mode / Biofeedback para controlar a ativação no tênis: um estudo de caso do modelo IZOF

: El objetivo de la presente investigación fue determinar el efecto de un programa de entrenamiento para el control de la activación basado en la respiración por medio de biorretroinformación, sobre la efectividad del servicio en tenistas de la ciudad de Bogotá. Los sujetos fueron tres tenistas de campo, de sexo masculino, entre 10 y 16 años de edad a quienes se les determino su Izof por medio de medición de frecuencia cardiaca, y se les midió el rendimiento en el primer servicio por medio de una observación de efectividad por zonas en el campo. Se encontró que a medida que los tenistas logran controlar su frecuencia cardiaca manteniéndola dentro de su zona de funcionamiento óptimo, el rendimiento en el servicio mejora, aunque se presentaron diferencias en los resultados entre los participantes (AU)

The aim of this research is to determine the effect of a training program in activation control based on breathing biofeedback, on the effectiveness of the service in tennis players from Bogotá. The participants were three male players, between 10 and 16 years old, who their Izof were determined by the measurement of heart rate with a CardioMonitor and the performance was measured at the first service by observation of effectiveness in the field areas. It was found that as the players control their heart rate holding within its zone of optimal performance, the performance improvement is proportional to the performance service, although there were differences between the participants (AU)

o objetivo desta pesquisa é determinar o efeito de um programa de treinamento em controle de ativação baseado em biofeedback respirar, sobre a eficácia do serviço em jogadores de tênis de Bogotá. os participantes foram três jogadores do sexo masculino, entre 10 e 16 anos de idade, que seu Izof foi determinadas através da medição da frequência cardíaca com um CardioMonitor eo desempenho foi medido no primeiro serviço pela observação de eficácia nas áreas de campo. Verificou-se que, segundo jogadores controlam a frequência cardíaca segurando na sua zona de desempenho ideal, melhoria de desempenho é proporcional ao serviço do desempenho, embora tenha havido diferenças entre os participantes (AU)

Densitometry, radiography, and histological assessment of collagen as methods to evaluate femoral bones in an experimental model of osteoporosis.

SUMMARY: All methods to detect experimental loss of bone present technique limitations. The sensitivities of image and histological analyses to detect the effects of teriparatide in rats with bone loss after ovariectomy were evaluated. All methods were qualitatively valid. INTRODUCTION: The standardization of methods to assess bone loss after ovariectomy is crucial to establish the degree of experimental osteoporosis. In general, methods per image or histological techniques are used. To validate these two ways to determine the degree of bone loss in ovariectomized rats, we evaluated the sensitivities of bone densitometry, conventional radiography, and histological analysis of the area occupied by collagen, detecting the effects of teriparatide treatment in the femur of ovariectomized rats with bone loss. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into three groups: a control group, in which the animals were only subjected to laparotomy; an ovariectomized group, in which bilateral removal of the ovaries was performed; and an ovariectomized + teriparatide group, in which bilateral removal of the ovaries was performed, and the animals were treated with 3 µg/100 g/day of teriparatide. Three months following the ovariectomy, bone densitometry, radiographic densitometry, and histological analysis of the area occupied by collagen fibers were carried out in the femur diaphysis. RESULTS: The bone densitometry revealed 11.2% reduction in femur density; in the conventional radiography, the loss of bone mass was 14.5%, and with the histological analysis, a 40.9% reduction in the area occupied by collagen was detected in the femur diaphysis. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, histological analysis could not be quantitatively compared with the methods of bone densitometry and conventional radiography; however, all of these methods were qualitatively valid for assessing the loss of bone stemming from ovariectomy and the therapeutic effect of teriparatide in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Evaluation of antifungal therapy in patients with candidaemia based on susceptibility testing results: implications for antimicrobial stewardship programmes.

BACKGROUND: Definitive antifungal therapy is typically based on Candida species and clinical status, rather than susceptibility reports. Antifungal susceptibility testing is available, but the impact on treatment decisions is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess antifungal therapy in hospitalized patients with candidaemia during the time period between the start of empirical therapy and after antifungal susceptibility testing reports are available. METHODS: A retrospective study of 161 hospitalized patients with candidaemia was conducted. Patients who received fluconazole or an echinocandin were evaluated for changes in empirical antifungal therapy prior to and after susceptibility reporting. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one patients aged 59 ±â€Š16 years (male, 54%; Caucasian, 52%; APACHE II score ≥ 15, 48%; and intensive care unit, 50%) were identified, of whom 130 (81%) had fluconazole-susceptible candidaemia. Fifty-eight patients (36%) were initiated on fluconazole and 103 (64%) on an echinocandin. The mean time from culture to the susceptibility report was 5 ±â€Š2 days. Prior to availability of the susceptibility report, 20 fluconazole-initiated patients (34%) were switched to an echinocandin, while 14 echinocandin-initiated patients (14%) were switched to fluconazole. Once a susceptibility report was available, 35 of 89 (39%) patients with fluconazole-susceptible candidaemia on an echinocandin were de-escalated to fluconazole. Eleven patients on fluconazole just prior to a susceptibility report were identified with a fluconazole-resistant Candida species. CONCLUSIONS: Using antifungal susceptibility testing, patients given fluconazole with fluconazole-resistant Candida species were identified. Less than 40% of echinocandin-treated patients with fluconazole-susceptible organisms were de-escalated to fluconazole. Antifungal susceptibility testing may help to identify patients in need of clinical intervention.

Anti-tumoral action of cannabinoids on hepatocellular carcinoma: role of AMPK-dependent activation of autophagy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide. When these tumors are in advanced stages, few therapeutic options are available. Therefore, it is essential to search for new treatments to fight this disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of cannabinoids--a novel family of potential anticancer agents--on the growth of HCC. We found that Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC, the main active component of Cannabis sativa) and JWH-015 (a cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB(2)) cannabinoid receptor-selective agonist) reduced the viability of the human HCC cell lines HepG2 (human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line) and HuH-7 (hepatocellular carcinoma cells), an effect that relied on the stimulation of CB(2) receptor. We also found that Δ(9)-THC- and JWH-015-induced autophagy relies on tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3) upregulation, and subsequent inhibition of the serine-threonine kinase Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin C1 axis and adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK) stimulation. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of AMPK upstream kinases supported that calmodulin-activated kinase kinase ß was responsible for cannabinoid-induced AMPK activation and autophagy. In vivo studies revealed that Δ(9)-THC and JWH-015 reduced the growth of HCC subcutaneous xenografts, an effect that was not evident when autophagy was genetically of pharmacologically inhibited in those tumors. Moreover, cannabinoids were also able to inhibit tumor growth and ascites in an orthotopic model of HCC xenograft. Our findings may contribute to the design of new therapeutic strategies for the management of HCC.

Effect of DHA supplementation on digestible starch utilization by rainbow trout.

Rainbow trout has a limited ability to utilize digestible carbohydrates efficiently. Trout feeds generally contain high levels of DHA, a fatty acid known to inhibit a number of glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes in animals. A study was conducted to determine whether carbohydrate utilization by rainbow trout might be affected by dietary DHA level. Two low-carbohydrate (<4 % digestible carbohydrate) basal diets were formulated to contain 1 (adequate) or 4 (excess) g/100 g DHA diet respectively. The two basal diets were diluted with increasing levels of digestible starch (0 %, 10 %, 20 % and 30 %, respectively) to produce eight diets. These diets were fed to fish for 12 weeks at 15 degrees C according to a pair-fed protocol that consisted of feeding the same amount of basal diet but different amounts of starch. Live weight, N and lipid gains, hepatic glycogen and plasma glucose values significantly increased, whereas feed efficiency (gain:feed) significantly decreased, with increasing starch intake (P<0.05). The retention efficiency of N (N gain/digestible N intake) improved with starch supplementation but was not affected by DHA level (P>0.05). Starch increased the activity of glucokinase, pyruvate kinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fatty acid synthase (P<0.05) but did not affect hexokinase and malic enzyme activity. DHA had no effect on growth but increased plasma glucose and reduced carcass lipid and liver glycogen contents (P<0.05). Glycolytic and lipogenic enzymes were not affected by DHA level, except for pyruvate kinase, which was reduced by increasing DHA level. These results suggest only a marginal effect of dietary DHA on the ability of fish to utilize carbohydrate.

["De Arthetica passione" in a XVth century Italian manuscript]. / "L'Arthetica passione" in un manoscritto italiano del Quattrocento.

The author describes a 15th century Italian manuscript by Antonio Cauchoreus based on the translation of the treatise "De Arthetica passione" by Antonio Guainiero di Pauia. This manuscript, that is in the Capitular Archive of Toledo, in keeping with the method of Consilia (analysis of symptoms, definition of the cause and diagnosis), presents some practical rules to treat gout, including particular herbal remedies.

Effect of an avocado oil-rich diet over an angiotensin II-induced blood pressure response.

We studied the effect of an avocado oil-rich diet on (1) the blood pressure response to angiotensin II (AngII) and (2) the fatty acid composition of cardiac and renal membranes on male Wistar rats. The avocado oil-rich diet induced a slightly higher AngII-induced blood pressure response in the rats as compared to the control rats. In cardiac microsomes, avocado oil induced an increase in oleic acid content (13.18+/-0.33% versus 15.46+/-0.59%), while in renal microsomes, the oil decreased alpha-linolenic acid content (0.34+/-0.02% versus 0.16+/-0.12%), but increased the arachidonic acid proportion (24.02+/-0.54% versus 26.25+/-0.54%), compared to control. In conclusion, avocado oil-rich diet modifies the fatty acid content in cardiac and renal membranes in a tissue-specific manner. The rise in renal arachidonic acid suggests that diet content can be a key factor in vascular responses.

An alternative for cost-effective remediation of depleted uranium (DU) at certain environmental restoration sites.

Numerous sites in the United States and around the world are contaminated with depleted uranium (DU) in various forms. A prevalent form is fragmented DU originating from various scientific tests involving high explosives and DU during weapon development programs, at firing practice ranges, or war theaters where DU was used in armor-piercing projectiles. The contamination at these sites is typically very heterogeneous, with discreet, visually identifiable DU fragments mixed with native soil. That is, the bulk-averaged DU activity is quite low, while specific DU fragments, which are distinct from the soil matrix, have much higher specific activity. DU is best known as a dark, black metal that is nearly twice as dense as lead, but DU in the environment readily weathers (oxidizes) to a distinctive bright yellow color that is readily visible. While the specific activity (amount of radioactivity per mass of soil) of DU is relatively low and presents only a minor radiological hazard, the fact that it is radioactive and visually identifiable makes it desirable to remove the DU "contamination" from the environment. The typical approach to conducting this DU remediation is to use radiation detection instruments to identify the contaminant and separate it from the adjacent soil, packaging it for disposal as radioactive waste. This process can be performed manually or by specialized, automated equipment. Alternatively, in certain situations a more cost-effective approach might be simple mechanical or gravimetric separation of the DU fragments from the host soil matrix. At SNL/NM, both the automated and simple mechanical approaches have recently been employed. This paper discusses the pros/cons of the two approaches.

Dominant lethal study of alpha-asarone in male and female mice after sub-chronic treatment.

Dominant lethal studies were conducted in male and female mice with alpha-asarone, the active hypolipidaemic component of Guatteria gaumeri Greenman, by per os sub-chronic treatment (10 and 20 mg/kg, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks) and subsequent mating. alpha-Asarone did not produce germinal mutations in either males or females. Epididymal sperm examination of male mice immediately after treatment failed to reveal any alteration in sperm count on shape. No significant alterations were observed in testicular or epididymal weights or testicular histology.

Subchronic toxicity study in mice fed Spirulina maxima.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of Spirulina maxima, a blue-green alga used as food supplement and food coloring, after 13 weeks of treatment. Groups of ten mice of each sex were given S. maxima in the diet at concentrations of 0 (control), 10, 20 or 30% (w/w) for 13 weeks. The alga ingestion had no effect on behavior, food and water intake, growth or survival. Terminal values in hematology and clinical chemistry did not reveal differences between treated and control groups. However, male and female mice showed significant changes in serum cholesterol levels at 20 and 30% algal concentrations, but a toxic effect of S. maxima was excluded. Post-mortem examination revealed no differences in gross or microscopic findings. Our results show that S. maxima up to high feeding levels did not produce adverse effects in mice after subchronic treatment.

Evidence for a dopaminergic involvement in the natriuretic action of centrally administered renin.

Intracerebroventricular (IVT) administration of renin (R) to conscious male hydrated rats induces an increase in sodium excretion. The involvement of brain dopaminergic neurons in the renal action of IVT-R was investigated. Renin-induced natriuretic action was prevented by domperidone and by inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase activity with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine treatment. In addition, this effect was absent following selective central dopaminergic denervation with 6-hydroxydopamine (IVT) in combination with desmethylimipramine (IP). Our results suggest that renin acts centrally, at least in part, via an interaction with endogenous dopamine systems.

Anti-inflammatory activity of the bark of Hippocratea excelsa.

The ethanol extract of the plant Hippocratea excelsa was examined for its anti-inflammatory effects using several animal models. It produced significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema and reduced the weight of cotton pellet-induced granuloma at doses of 25-100 mg/kg. The extract was found to exert a protective effect on heat-induced erythrocyte lysis at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 micrograms/ml. In chronic models of formaldehyde and adjuvant arthritis, its anti-arthritic activity was found to be less than that of phenylbutazone (PNB). It may be inferred that the ethanol extract is effective against both exudative-proliferative and chronic phases of inflammation.

A human opsin-related gene that encodes a retinaldehyde-binding protein.

The ligand-binding property of a cytoplasmic membrane-bound protein from bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been demonstrated. The putative RPE-retinal G protein coupled receptor (RGR) covalently binds both all-trans- and 11-cis-retinal after reduction by sodium borohydride. The 32-kDa receptor binds all-trans-retinal preferentially, rather than the 11-cis isomer. The amino acid sequence of the opsin-related protein in humans is 86% identical to that of bovine RGR, and a lysine residue, analogous to the retinaldehyde attachment site of rhodopsin, is conserved in the seventh transmembrane domain of RGR in both species. The human gene that encodes the novel retinaldehyde receptor spans 14.8 kb and is split into seven exons. The structure of the gene is distinct from that of the visual pigment genes. These findings support the notion that the rgr gene represents the earliest independent branch of the vertebrate opsin gene family. A second form of human RGR in retina is predicted by alternative splicing of its precursor mRNA. This RGR variant results from the alternative use of an internal acceptor splice site in the second intron of the human gene, and it contains an insertion of four amino acids in the connecting loop between the second and thrid transmembrane domains. Since RGR binds all-trans-retinal preferentially, one of its functions may be to catalyze isomerization of the chromophore by a retinochrome-like mechanism.

[Pharmacology and toxicology of Guatteria gaumeri and alpha-asarone]. / Farmacología y toxicología de Guatteria gaumeri y alfa-asarona.

Guatteria gaumeri Greenman (Annonacease) has been used as bark infusion in the traditional mexican medicine for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and cholelithiasis. The main component is alpha-asarone which has been isolated by different extraction procedures and subsequently synthetized, as well as 16 analogs, derivatives of 4-propenyl-1,2-dimethoxybenzenes 5-substituted. After daily dosing per os of 80 mg/kg of alpha-asarone and the amino and metoxi analogs for seven days to hypercholesterolemic male rats, cholesterol decreased 57.3, 37.5 and 46.9% and triglycerides diminished 42.5, 67.6 and 17.2% respectively. Some of the other analogs showed also important hypolipidemic activity. Similarly alpha-asarone decreased 80.6% the weight of gallstones in hamsters. Studies using adult rat hepatocytes suggest that at least part of the hypolipidemic effect of alpha-asarone could be due to a decrease in the secretion of lipids. Alpha-asarone did not produce any toxic effect after oral administration to rats of 10 or 50 mg/kg for 28 days, or genotoxicity by the dominant lethal test. However long-term exposure of cultivated hepatocytes to micromolar concentrations produced morphologic and ultrastructural alterations, triacylglycerol accumulation and inhibition of protein synthesis and secretion. At the same time both the Ames and sister-chromatid exchange tests showed genotoxic effect. No teratogenicity was observed in pregnant rats during organogenesis but in mice slight fetal toxicity was manifested by hydrocephaly, skeletal defects and fetal weight retardation. There are no data on the possible exposure levels in humans consuming the bark extract, but the toxic effects of alpha-asarone in animals suggest caution in the use of this plant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pulmonary aspergillosis in mice: treatment with a new triazole SCH39304.

The triazole SCH39304 was compared with amphotericin B and fluconazole for the treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis in corticoid-immunosuppressed mice intranasally challenged with 5 x 10(6) conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus. In vitro, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for fluconazole was greater than 80 micrograms/ml, for SCH39304 40 micrograms/ml, and for amphotericin B 0.29 micrograms/ml. Beginning 1 day after challenge, groups of 10 mice were treated orally, twice daily, for 15 days with Noble agar (control), SCH39304, fluconazole, or amphotericin B at various doses. For lung tissue counts of A. fumigatus, mice were similarly challenged and treated only for 5 days with SCH39304, fluconazole, or amphotericin B. Only SCH39304 significantly reduced the number of A. fumigatus in the lung. SCH39304 at doses of 5 mg/kg or higher significantly prolonged the survival of mice, as did amphotericin B at 3 mg/kg. Fluconazole did not significantly prolong survival at doses of 15 or 30 mg/kg. SCH39304 appears to be as effective as amphotericin B in murine pulmonary aspergillosis and warrants further evaluation for aspergillosis in humans.

[The anti-implantation effects of various savine extracts on the pregnant rat]. / Effets anti-implantations de différents extraits de sabine sur la rate gestante.

Ether and ethyl acetate extracts obtained after savin essential oil extraction, were administered, on days 1 to 4, to pregnant rats by intragastric catheter, at doses of 0, 50 or 150 mg/Kg, to search for their possible effects on implantation. The ethyl acetate extract was not toxic. Inversely, the ether extract was responsible for a dose-dependent anti-implantation effect, thus showing that essential oil is not alone responsible for the abortive effect generally attributed to Savin.

Teratological evaluation of Juniperus sabina essential oil in mice.

Juniperus sabina essential oil was evaluated for its fetotoxic potential on mice. Pregnant dams were injected s.c. (15-45 or 135 mg essential oil/kg body weight) on days 6 to 15 of gestation. They were killed and the uterine contents were examined on day 19 of pregnancy. The fetuses were removed for examination. The dams of the two higher treated groups showed a significant weight loss as compared to controls. An hepatotoxicity was observed among females that resorbed their whole litter, thus indicating a greater susceptibility towards Juniperus sabina essential oil during pregnancy. The essential oil induced, in the three treated groups, an embryotoxicity as manifested by a statistically significant increase in the number of affected litters; but no fetotoxicity.