Chemical composition of essential oil from ripe fruit of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi and evaluation of its activity against wild strains of hospital origin.

The essential oil (EO) composition of ripe fruit of S. terebinthifolius Raddi was analyzed by GC-MS. The oil extraction yielded 6.54 ± 1.06% (w/w). Seventeen compounds were identified, accounting for 91.15% of the total oil, where monoterpenes constituted the main chemical class (85.81%), followed by sesquiterpenes (5.34%). The major monoterpene identified was δ-3-carene (30.37%), followed by limonene (17.44%), α-phellandrene (12.60%) and α-pinene (12.59%). Trans-caryophyllene (1.77%) was the major sesquiterpene identified. The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated against wild strains of hospital origin (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella oxytoca, Corynebacterium sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter sp., Enterobacter agglomerans, Bacillus sp., Nocardia sp. and Streptococcus group D). The essential oil of the ripe fruit of S. terebinthifolius Raddi has shown to be active against all tested wild strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 3.55 µg/mL to 56.86 µg/mL. However, it has revealed some differences in susceptibility: the general, Gram-positive species showed greater sensitivity to the action of EO, which is probably due to the lower structural complexity of their cell walls.

Chemical composition of essential oil from ripe fruit of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi and evaluation of its activity against wild strains of hospital origin

The essential oil (EO) composition of ripe fruit of S. terebinthifolius Raddi was analyzed by GC-MS. The oil extraction yielded 6.54 ± 1.06% (w/w). Seventeen compounds were identified, accounting for 91.15% of the total oil, where monoterpenes constituted the main chemical class (85.81%), followed by sesquiterpenes (5.34%). The major monoterpene identified was δ-3-carene (30.37%), followed by limonene (17.44%), α-phellandrene (12.60%) and α-pinene (12.59%). Trans-caryophyllene (1.77%) was the major sesquiterpene identified. The antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated against wild strains of hospital origin (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella oxytoca, Corynebacterium sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter sp., Enterobacter agglomerans, Bacillus sp., Nocardia sp. and Streptococcus group D). The essential oil of the ripe fruit of S. terebinthifolius Raddi has shown to be active against all tested wild strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 3.55 μg/mL to 56.86 μg/mL. However, it has revealed some differences in susceptibility: the general, Gram-positive species showed greater sensitivity to the action of EO, which is probably due to the lower structural complexity of their cell walls.

Temozolomide resistance in glioblastoma cells occurs partly through epidermal growth factor receptor-mediated induction of connexin 43.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive adult primary brain tumor with poor prognosis. GBM patients develop resistance to the frontline chemotherapy, temozolomide (TMZ). As the connexins (Cx) have been shown to have a complex role in GBM, we investigated the role of Cx43 in TMZ resistance. Cx43 was increased in the TMZ-resistant low passage and cell lines. This correlated with the data in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Cx43 knockdown, reporter gene assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, real-time PCR and western blots verified a role for Cx43 in TMZ resistance. This occurred by TMZ-resistant GBM cells being able to activate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In turn, EGFR activated the JNK-ERK1/2-AP-1 axis to induce Cx43. The increased Cx43 was functional as indicated by gap junctional intercellular communication among the resistant GBM cells. Cell therapy could be a potential method to deliver drugs, such as anti-EGF to tumor cells. Similar strategies could be used to reverse the expression of Cx43 to sensitize GBM cells to TMZ. The studies showed the potential for targeting EGF in immune therapy. These agents can be used in conjunction with stem cell therapy to treat GBM.

Compliance with pelvic floor exercise program: maintaining bladder symptom relief.

Urinary incontinence can cause social isolation and be a financial and hygienic burden to the individual. Pelvic floor muscle exercises can be effective in maintaining and improving urinary incontinence and associated bladder symptoms following a successful course of biofeedback and electrical stimulation.