A new antitumoral Heteroarylaminothieno[3,2-b]pyridine derivative: its incorporation into liposomes and interaction with proteins monitored by fluorescence.

The fluorescence properties of the new potent antitumoral methyl 3-amino-6-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylamino)thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate in solution and when encapsulated in several different nanoliposome formulations were investigated. The compound exhibits very reasonable fluorescence quantum yields and a solvent sensitive emission in several polar and non-polar media, despite not being fluorescent in protic solvents. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements of the compound incorporated into liposomes revealed that this thienopyridine derivative can be carried in the hydrophobic region of the lipid membrane. Liposome formulations including this antitumor compound are nanometric in size, with a diameter lower than 130 nm and generally low polydispersity, and are promising for future drug delivery developments. The interaction of the compound with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the multidrug resistance protein MDR1 was monitored by FRET, the compound acting as an energy acceptor. It was observed that the drug had a lower interaction with the MDR1 protein than with the native form of BSA, which is an important result regarding applications of this antitumoral drug.

Salivatory neurons in the brainstem nucleus parvocellularis of the rat: effects of electrolytic lesions.

This study was based on several recent anatomical studies suggesting that the superior salivatory nucleus is located within the area parvocellularis of the brainstem reticular formation. The aforementioned zone was lesioned in order to observe the alterations produced in salivary secretion. Electrolytic lesion of the area parvocellularis was followed by salivary hypersecretion as an immediate and transitory effect of the stimulatory capacity of the electrolytic lesioning method. Some days later the animals presented a markedly impaired salivary secretion as shown by the appearance of inefficient feeding behavior and the development of a prandial drinking pattern. The prandial behavior, which was characterized by numerous drinking episodes during dry food intake, was reversed when wet food was offered, suggesting a true deficit in salivary secretion caused by the parvocellularis lesion. Following the administration of pilocarpine, the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands of experimental animals showed an increased capacity for response (postsynaptic supersensitivity) in comparison to the control group.

[Capnocytophaga spp. bacteremia in compromised patients]. / Bacteriemia por Capnocytophaga spp. en pacientes comprometidos.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical characteristics of three patients with Capnocytophaga spp. bacteremia. METHODS: We have review the clinical charts of three patients with Capnocytophaga spp. bacteremia, two patients with acute leukemia and one epileptic patient with chronic alcoholism. RESULTS: All the patients had oral cavity troubles and were treated with different antimicrobial agents. The three patients recovered, one of them requiring changing of the antimicrobial therapy in one of them. CONCLUSIONS: We should be aware of the importance of Capnocytophaga spp. especially in immunosuppressed patients or in other patients with poor dental hygiene and fever.