Plant stem cell extract from Coffea canephora shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin regenerative properties mediated by suppression of nuclear factor-κB.

Plant cell cultures have become a promising production platform of bioactive compounds for biomedical and cosmetic uses in the last decades. However, the success so far has been limited. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of this unique biotechnology process to obtain a bioactive stem cell extract of Coffea canephora (SCECC) with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined in the SCECC by spectrophotometry. The chemical composition of the extracts was characterized by mass spectrometry. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the colorimetric methods of free radical scavenging 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). The anti-inflammatory activity was determined in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages through the production of superoxide anion (O2•-), nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Moreover, the ability of SCECC to stimulate the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts was assessed. Five compounds were tentatively identified, two flavonoids, two phenolic acids, and one sugar. High phenolic content and antioxidant activity were observed in the SCECC. SCECC promoted the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts and suppressed the pro-inflammatory mediators O2•-, NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, SCECC inhibited the NF-κB transcription factor. Therefore, we obtained evidence that the extract from C. canephora stem cells can be used as a natural agent against skin damage. Hence, it could be of interest in cosmetics for preventing skin aging.

Fatty acid composition of vegetable oil blend and in vitro effects of pharmacotherapeutical skin care applications.

Vegetable oils have been used for a plethora of health benefits by their incorporation in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products, especially those intended for skin care. This study aimed to investigate the cutaneous benefits of a vegetable oil blend (VOB) formulation and its fatty acid composition. The anti-inflammatory activity was studied in macrophages of RAW 264.7 cells by investigating the release of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide anion generation (O2-), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). ABTS cation radical scavenging capacity assay, ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and NO free radical scavenging assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. VOB was tested for its ability to stimulate fibroblast proliferation and migration using the scratch assay, and antibacterial activity by the microdilution test. The fatty acid profile of a freshly prepared VOB formulation was determined by gas chromatography before and after accelerated stability testing. Chemical composition of VOB revealed the presence of oleic acid (C18:1n-9; 63.3%), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6; 4.7%), and linolenic acid (C18:3n-6; 5.1%) as major mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. No changes in the organoleptic characteristics and fatty acid composition were observed after the accelerated stability test. VOB 100 µg/mL reduced the healing time by increasing the total number of cells in the wounded area by 43.0±5.1% compared to the negative control group. VOB also suppressed the pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines, and NO and O2- production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage cells. In conclusion, the VOB formulation contributed to the improvement of current therapeutic strategies for cutaneous applications in skin care.

Fatty acid composition of vegetable oil blend and in vitro effects of pharmacotherapeutical skin care applications

Vegetable oils have been used for a plethora of health benefits by their incorporation in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products, especially those intended for skin care. This study aimed to investigate the cutaneous benefits of a vegetable oil blend (VOB) formulation and its fatty acid composition. The anti-inflammatory activity was studied in macrophages of RAW 264.7 cells by investigating the release of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide anion generation (O2-), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). ABTS cation radical scavenging capacity assay, ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and NO free radical scavenging assays were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity. VOB was tested for its ability to stimulate fibroblast proliferation and migration using the scratch assay, and antibacterial activity by the microdilution test. The fatty acid profile of a freshly prepared VOB formulation was determined by gas chromatography before and after accelerated stability testing. Chemical composition of VOB revealed the presence of oleic acid (C18:1n-9; 63.3%), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6; 4.7%), and linolenic acid (C18:3n-6; 5.1%) as major mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. No changes in the organoleptic characteristics and fatty acid composition were observed after the accelerated stability test. VOB 100 µg/mL reduced the healing time by increasing the total number of cells in the wounded area by 43.0±5.1% compared to the negative control group. VOB also suppressed the pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-6 cytokines, and NO and O2- production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophage cells. In conclusion, the VOB formulation contributed to the improvement of current therapeutic strategies for cutaneous applications in skin care.

Effects of extraction methods of phenolic compounds from Xanthium strumarium L. and their antioxidant activity / Efeito de métodos de extração de compostos fenólicos de Xanthium strumarium L. e suas atividades antioxidantes

Foram avaliados os efeitos de métodos de extração e de solventes sobre o rendimento de extrato, conteúdo de fenólicos totais, atividade antioxidante, e composição dos compostos fenólicos de Xanthium strumarium L. A atividade antioxidante foi determinada pelo método do radical 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazila (DPPH), e a composição dos compostos fenólicos foi determinada por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência e por espectrometria de massas com ionização por electrospray. Todos os resultados foram afetados pelo método de extração e, principalmente pelo solvente utilizado, sendo que os melhores resultados foram obtidos com o solvente metanol. Os extratos metanólico e etanólico apresentaram forte ação antioxidante e os principais compostos fenólicos encontrados nos extratos foram os ácidos ferúlico e clorogênico.

The effect of extraction methods and solvents on overall yield, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and the composition of the phenolic compounds in Xanthium strumarium extracts were studied. The antioxidant activity was determined by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), and the composition of the phenolic compounds was determined by HPLC-DAD and LC/MS. All results were affected by the extraction method, especially by the solvent used, and the best results were obtained with the methanol extract. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity, and the chlorogenic and ferulic acids were the most abundant phenolic compounds in the extracts.

Xanthium strumarium L. antimicrobial activity and carboxyatractyloside analysis through electrospray ionization mass spectrometry / Atividade antimicrobiana e análise de carboxiatractilosideo por espectrometria de massas com ionização por electrospray de Xanthium strumarium L

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Xanthium strumarium L. leaf extracts against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium perfringens, as well as to investigate the presence of the toxic compound carboxyatractyloside in different plant parts. S. aureus and C. perfringens were more sensitive to non-polar than to polar fractions, and there was no difference between extracts for the remaining bacteria. All extracts had strong antimicrobial activity against the evaluated microorganisms. Carboxyatractyloside was found in cotyledons and seeds but not in adult leaves and burrs. Thus, only Xanthium strumarium leaves in adult stage can be used for medicinal purposes.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana de extratos de folhas de Xanthium strumarium L. sobre os microrganismos Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella thyphimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa e Clostridium perfringens, bem como verificar a presença do composto tóxico carboxiatractilosideo em diferentes partes da planta. As bactérias S. aureus e C. perfringens foram mais sensíveis às frações não polares do que as polares, sendo que para as outras bactérias não foi verificada diferença entre os extratos. Todos os extratos apresentaram uma forte ação antimicrobiana sobre os microrganismos avaliados. O carboxiatractilosideo foi encontrado nos cotilédones e nas sementes da planta, entretanto, não foi encontrado nas folhas em estádio adulto e na carapaça espinhosa que envolve a semente. Portanto, somente as folhas de Xanthium strumarium na fase adulta podem ser utilizadas para o uso medicinal.

Simultaneous determination of B-group vitamins in enriched Brazilian dairy products.

In addition to serving as good natural sources of vitamin B(2), milk and milk products are currently being enriched with the vitamins B(1), B(2), B(6), and nicotinamide in Brazil. The objective of this research was to evaluate the levels of enrichment of these products according to their availability in supermarkets in the Campinas (SP, Brazil) region. The separation of the vitamins was carried out on a C 18 column with gradient elution with acetonitrile and aqueous phase. Detection of vitamins was effected in the ultraviolet region and quantification by an external standard. The levels of vitamin B(2) determined in powdered whole milk, skimmed milk powder, and one brand of flavored lactic beverage, were practically double those stated on the packages. The same occurred with vitamins B(6) and PP (nicotinic acid + nicotinamide), when determined in the same lactic beverage and with vitamin B(6), determined in acidified milk. The high levels of vitamin B(2), naturally present in whole milk, and the predominance of the free form, allowed for the determination of this vitamin in non-enriched milk.

Critical decision-speed and information transfer in the "Graz Brain-Computer Interface".

The "Graz Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)" transforms changes in oscillatory EEG activity into control signals for external devices and feedback. These changes are induced by various motor imageries performed by the user. For this study, 2 different types of motor imagery (movement of the right vs. left hand or both feet) were classified by processing 2 bipolar EEG-channels (derived at electrode positions C3 and C4). After a few sessions, within some weeks, 4 young paraplegic patients learned to control the BCI. In accordance with the participants, decision-speed (trial length) was varied and the information transfer rate (ITR) was calculated for each run. All experimental runs have been feedback-runs employing a simple computer-game-like paradigm. A falling ball had to be led into a randomly marked target halfway down the screen. The horizontal position was controlled by the BCI-output signal and the trial length was varied by the investigator across runs. The goal was to find values for trial length enabling a maximum ITR. Three out of 4 participants had good results after a few runs. Analysis of their last 2 experimental sessions, each containing between 10 and 16 runs, showed that the trial length can be reduced to values around 2 s to obtain the highest possible information transfer. Attainable ITRs were between 5 and 17 bit/min depending on the participant's performance and condition.

Graz-BCI: state of the art and clinical applications.

The Graz-brain-computer interface (BCI) is a cue-based system using the imagery of motor action as the appropriate mental task. Relevant clinical applications of BCI-based systems for control of a virtual keyboard device and operations of a hand orthosis are reported. Additionally, it is demonstrated how information transfer rates of 17 b/min can be acquired by real time classification of oscillatory activity.

[Haemostaseological aspects of perioperative blood management]. / Hämostaseologische Aspekte des perioperativen Blutmanagements.

Recent studies in humans have shown that tissue factor on the surface of endothelial cells, monocytes, or subendothelial structures sparks plasmatic coagulation. In vivo, there is no functional separation of an "endogenous" and "exogenous" pathway of the coagulation cascade. However, global laboratory tests run along such pathways due to preincubation with specific activators and, hence, allow localization of inherited coagulation defects. Coagulation inhibitors such as antithrombin or activated protein C are accelerated in their activity by cell surface glycoproteins and almost completely inactivate procoagulant activity in the microcirculation. Antithrombin binds to endothelial glycosaminoglycans and then significantly increases anticoagulant activity. Protein C is activated by the thrombin-thrombomodulin-complex and inactivates factors V a and VIII a, respectively. Additionally, activated protein C has a profibrinolytic effect. Both systems physiologically counteract the procoagulant transformation of endothelial and monocyte cell surfaces which occurs in critically ill patients due to induction of tissue factor, suppression of thrombomodulin, and removal of glycosaminoglycans from the cell surface. The distinction of static and dynamic coagulation disorders is useful since static disorders seldom require therapeutic interventions although global laboratory tests may continuously deteriorate. Dynamical disorders are symptoms of an underlying disease, and consumption coagulopathy with disseminated fibrin deposition and oozing occurs when coagulation turnover cannot be stopped. Antithrombin substitution is a well documented therapeutic option along with fresh frozen plasma and erythrocyte concentrate transfusion for blood substitution. Recent case reports in patients with irreversible bleeding complications favour the application of a recombinant factor VII concentrate. A rising perspective to decrease the use of heterologous blood and blood products may be intraoperative plasma retransfusion. The quality of such plasma undergoing consecutive filtration steps has to be clinically studied. The application of a synthetic platelet substitute, the "plateletsome", containing platelet glycoproteins led to significantly improved haemostasis without generating systemic procoagulant activity. In a far future, procoagulant cell surface transformation may be influenced by topic application of inhaled thrombomodulin loaded liposomes or by sense or antisense oligonucleotides inducing thrombomodulin expression or suppressing tissue factor expression, respectively.

[Porto-femoro-subclavian bypass and the rapid infusion technique in orthotopic liver transplantation]. / Portofemoro-Subclavia Bypass und "Rapid Infusion"-Technik bei orthotoper Lebertransplantation.

Veno-venous bypass during orthotopic liver transplantation is commonly performed as a porto-femoro-axillary bypass. Right-angle positioning of one patient's arm and surgical preparation of the femoral and axillary veins are necessary. In 17 patients and 20 consecutive orthotopic liver transplant procedures the common porto-femoro-axillary veno-venous bypass was substituted by porto-femoro-subclavian bypass with a percutaneous 20 F cannulation set (LAUB catheter, Cook). The 20 F catheter was introduced into the left subclavian vein by Seldinger's technique before the operation and was connected intraoperatively to the outflow tube of the biopump. Surgical preparation of the axillary vein was not performed. In 10 patients a Y-connector was used to connect up the Rapid Infusion System in addition. Postoperatively the catheter was left in place for 2-4 days. Introduction and removal of the catheter were uneventful in all cases. High blood flow through the catheter could be maintained by a low driving pressure of the pump (4000 ml/min; 100 mmHg). No intraoperative complications were observed. Shunt flows remained stable throughout the surgical procedure during the anhepatic stage. There was no bleeding from the puncture site, especially after removal of the catheter, though several patients had a poor coagulatory status in the early postoperative period. Two postoperative complications were observed: air embolism due to disconnection and formation of a thrombus at the catheter tip, which it was possible to remove together with the catheter itself. Installation of an irrigation infusion in the postoperative period and well-tightened connections help avoid such complications as thrombus formation, bleeding or air embolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Hemodynamics and myocardial energy balance in coronary surgery patients during high-dose fentanyl-pancuronium anesthesia and modified neurolept-pancuronium anesthesia]. / Hämodynamik und myokardiale Energiebilanz koronarchirurgischer Patienten unter High Dose Fentanyl-Pancuronium- und unter modifizierter Neurolept-Pancuronium-Anaesthesie.

In 8 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) classed as NYHA II or III, anesthesia was induced with high-dose fentanyl (0.05 mg/kg) and pancuronium (0.1 mg/kg). The patients were ventilated normally with the aid of a mask (O2: air 1:1, tidal volume 10 ml/kg with a rate of 10/min) for 5 min and then intubated. In 8 further patients with CAD NYHA class II or III, anesthesia was induced with 0.02 mg/kg flunitrazepam, N2O/O2 1:1 and isoflurane 0.5 vol%; they were relaxed with pancuronium (0.1 mg/kg) in combination with a bolus of 0.005 mg/kg fentanyl. These patients were also ventilated normally for 5 min and then intubated. Measurements of cardiovascular dynamics included cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), arterial pressure (AP), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), right atrial pressure (RAP), myocardial blood flow (MBF), and arterial and coronary sinus oxygen and lactate contents. Cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI), total peripheral resistance (TPR), myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2), coronary vascular resistance (CVR), coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), myocardial oxygen content difference (AVDO2cor) and myocardial lactate extraction rate (LE) were calculated from standard formulas. Measurements and an electrocardiogram were taken before anesthesia, after induction of anesthesia and after intubation. The hemodynamic parameters HR, AP, CI, CPP were relatively stable in patients anesthetized with high-dose fentanyl and pancuronium, whereas we found greater decreases in these parameters with the balanced anesthesia technique. Determinants of myocardial oxygen demand were higher in the high-dose fentanyl group; therefore, myocardial blood flow and oxygen consumption did not decrease to the same extent as in the balanced anesthesia group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)