Antifungal and antiprotozoal green amino acid-based rhamnolipids: Mode of action, antibiofilm efficiency and selective activity against resistant Candida spp. strains and Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Nowadays, infections caused by fungi and protists constitute a serious problem for public health services. The limited number of treatment options coupled with the increasing number of resistant microorganisms makes necessary the development of new non-toxic antifungal and antiprotozoal agents. Cationic amino acid-based rhamnolipids have been recently prepared by our group and exhibited good antibacterial activity. In this work, the antifungal, antibiofilm and antiprotozoal activity of these new rhamnolipids was investigated against a collection of fluconazole-resistant strains of different Candida species and Acanthamoeba castellanii, respectively. The arginine-RLs exhibited good antifungal activity against all fluconazole-resistant Candida spp. strains tested at MICs ranging from 6.5 to 20.7 mg/L. Their mechanism of action involves alterations in the permeability of the cell membranes that provoke death by apoptosis. The Arginine based-RLs also disperse Candida biofilms at low concentrations, similar to the MICs. All RLs tested (anionic and cationic) showed antiprotozoal activity, the arginine derivatives had the best activity killing the Acanthamoeba castellanii at concentrations of 4 mg/L. Interestingly, these surfactants have a wide range of action against yeast and A. castellanii in which they do not show toxicity against keratinocytes and fibroblasts. These results indicate that these new rhamnolipids have a sufficiently wide safety margin to be considered good candidates for several pharmaceutical applications such as combating fungal resistance and microbial biofilms and the formulation of antiprotozoal drugs.

Micronutrients Selenomethionine and Selenocysteine Modulate the Redox Status of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells.

Selenium is a micronutrient which is found in many foods, with redox status modulation activity. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of two chemical forms of selenoamino acids, Seleno-L-methionine and Seleno-L-cystine (a diselenide derived from selenocysteine), at different concentrations on cell viability, hydrogen peroxide production, antioxidant enzymes, UCP2 protein expression, as well as lipid and protein oxidative damage in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Results showed that Seleno-L-methionine did not cause an increase in hydrogen peroxide production at relatively low concentrations, accompanied by a rise in the antioxidant enzymes catalase and MnSOD, and UCP2 protein expression levels. Furthermore, a decrease in protein and lipid oxidative damage was observed at 10 µM concentration. Otherwise, Seleno-L-cystine increased hydrogen peroxide production from relatively low concentrations (100 nM) to a large increase at high concentrations. Moreover, at 10 µM, Seleno-L-cystine decreased UCP2 and MnSOD protein expression. In conclusion, the chemical form of selenoamino acid and their incorporation to selenoproteins could affect the regulation of the breast cancer cell redox status. Taken together, the results obtained in this study imply that it is important to control the type of selenium-enriched nutrient consumption, taking into consideration their composition and concentration.

Herbal medicine use in adults who experience anxiety: A qualitative exploration.

Herbal medicine use is widespread and has been reported to be as high as 21% in people with anxiety disorders. Critical thematic analysis was used to explore beliefs and attitudes towards herbal medicines in adults experiencing anxiety. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight adults who experienced anxiety and used herbal medicines. Three major themes were found: Herbal medicines being different from pharmaceuticals, evidence and effectiveness, and barriers to herbal medicine use. Within these themes people held beliefs about the safety of natural treatments, valued anecdotes from friends and family as a form of evidence for self-prescribing, and described confusion about herbal medicines and their cost as barriers to using them as a treatment option. The findings will inform future research and provide guidance for health practitioners.

Differential effects of self-esteem and interpersonal competence on humor styles.

BACKGROUND: In contrast with an early implicit "facilitative hypothesis" of humor, a revised specificity hypothesis predicts that the benefits of humor depend on the specific style of humor used. Information on predictors of these humor styles in turn enhances the ability to predict the effect on well-being. METHODS: We examined the relationships between interpersonal competence, self-esteem, and different styles of humor, while also examining the contributions of age and gender. Participants (n = 201) aged 18-63 years completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory, the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire, and the Humor Styles Questionnaire, and gave demographic information. RESULTS: High self-esteem was associated with higher use of affiliative, aggressive, and self-enhancing humor styles, but lower use of self-defeating humor. High interpersonal competence predicted greater use of affiliative humor, whereas low interpersonal competence predicted greater use of aggressive humor. Further analyses showed that initiation competence predicted affiliative humor (positively) but both initiation competence (positively) and conflict management competence (negatively) predicted aggressive humor. CONCLUSION: The findings that both self-esteem and initiation competence contribute to use of aggressive humor add to knowledge of who is likely to use this potentially harmful humor style. We conclude that a readiness to initiate humorous interactions is not on its own a general and positive attribute contributing to "good" humor.

Condrosarcoma mesenquimal de nasofaringe y carcinoma de células acinares de la glándula parótida sincrónicos en una niña / Synchronous mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the nasopharynx and acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in an 11 year old girl

Según nuestro conocimiento, este es el primer caso descrito de un condrosarcoma mesenquimal (CM) nasofaríngeo y un carcinoma de células acinares (CCA) de la glándula parótida síncronos en una niña de 11 años. El CM es un sarcoma de alto grado de comportamiento clínico agresivo, con gran tendencia a las recidivas tardías y a metastatizar. Es un tumor bifásico constituido por áreas de células pequeñas e indiferenciadas, entremezcladas con islotes de cartílago hialino.Típicamente ocurre en adultos jóvenes y el tratamiento consiste en su extirpación con márgenes amplios. El CCA es un tumor maligno de glándulas salivares poco frecuente.La presencia de gránulos citoplasmáticos de zimógeno (PAS +) es muy específica de esta entidad.Puede afectar a pacientes de cualquier edad. Según publicaciones recientes, el pronóstico de los tumores malignos de glándula salivar en la población infantil es bueno(AU)

We present a case of synchronous mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC) of the nasopharyx and acinic cell carcinoma (AAC) of the parotid gland in an 11 year old girl. To our knowledge, this is the first time this has been reported.MC is a high grade sarcoma which is highly aggressive clinically and has a strong tendency towards late recurrences and distant metastases. Morphologically, it is a biphasic tumour made up of areas of small, round, undifferentiated cells intermixed with islands of hyaline cartilage. Typically, it occurs in young adults and requires surgical excision with wide margins. AAC is an unusual malignant salivary gland neoplasm which can affect a wide age range of patients, from young children to adults. PAS positive cytoplasmic zymogen granules are highly specific for AAC. According to recent studies, malignant salivary gland neoplasms in paediatric patients have a good prognosis(AU)

Metaplasia ósea en relación con una denocarcinoma de colon / Osseous metaplasia in colonic adenocarcinoma

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Swollen and collapsed lyotropic lamellar rheology.

We have investigated linear rheological properties and the structure-flow relationship of the swollen (Lam(1)) and collapsed (Lam(2)) lamellar phases, formed on didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB)/lecithin/water ternary system at 25 degrees C. Both lamellar phases behaved like Bingham fluids and showed remarkable yield stresses. At rest the Lam(1) phase, which is characterized by densely packed vesicles whose sizes increase as the water content decreases in accordance to evolution of (2)H NMR spectral profiles of D(2)O, resulted in a strong elastic gel-like response. On the other hand, the Lam(2) phase, formed at high surfactant concentrations, showed a weak-gel viscoelasticity and (2)H NMR spectral patterns which are typical of planar bilayered structures. The increase of the quadrupole splitting as the water content decreases was assumed as a strong evidence of size increasing of the lamellar domains. We have demonstrated that by using dynamic rheology and the derived relaxation time spectra, along with (2)H NMR spectra of D(2)O, it is possible to differentiate between equilibrium lamellar structures occurring in a broad interval of total surfactant concentration. In addition, a shear-thickening regime, observed at intermediate shear-rate values, highlighted the onset of out-equilibrium lamellar structures which were present both on Lam(1) and Lam(2) phases.

Interaction between the conjugated polyelectrolyte poly{1,4-phenylene[9,9-bis(4-phenoxybutylsulfonate)]fluorene-2,7-diyl} copolymer and the lecithin mimic 1-O-(l-Arginyl)-2,3-O-dilauroyl-sn-glycerol in aqueous solution.

In this paper, the interaction between the water-soluble conjugated polyelectrolyte poly{1,4-phenylene[9,9-bis(4-phenoxybutylsulfonate)]fluorene-2,7-diyl} copolymer and the amino acid glyceride conjugate 1-O-(L-arginyl)-2,3-O-dilauroyl-sn-glycerol dichlorohydrate (a mimic for the phospholipid lecithin) has been studied in aqueous solution by electronic spectroscopy (absorption and fluorescence) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). A significant increase in the polymer fluorescence and blue shift in its emission are observed on association with the surfactant. This is suggested to be due to breakup of polymer aggregates. In addition, the spectroscopic and photophysical data suggest this is followed by the vesicle to ribbon transition characteristic of this surfactant, leading to incorporation of single chains of the polymer within mixed polymer-surfactant aggregates. Support for this comes from preliminary SANS measurements, from which evidence for polymer dissolution and formation of two-dimensional structures has been obtained.

Assessment of the potential irritation and photoirritation of novel amino acid-based surfactants by in vitro methods as alternative to the animal tests.

The ultraviolet-A radiation damage effects on skin and eyes will be increased by phototoxic compounds which could be present in pharmaceutical or cosmetic formulations. Great efforts have been made in the last years to find surfactants to replace those with phototoxic potential in commercial use. Series of different in vitro models for phototoxicity, included to validated neutral red uptake (NRU) 3T3 phototoxicity assay are useful screening tools. The phototoxic effects of a novel family of glycerol amino acid-based surfactant compounds were examined via these assays. Human red blood cells and two immortalised cell lines, murine fibroblast cell line 3T3, and one human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT, were the in vitro models employed to predict potential photoirritation. The phototoxic end-points assessed were hemolysis (human red blood cell test) and resazurin transformation to resorufin and NRU in cell culture methods. The results suggest that no phototoxic effects by any new amino acid derived-surfactants, could be identified.

Warm up: Efficacy of a program designed for downhill skiing.

A warm-up program designed for downhill skiers and conducted in alpine conditions was tested for its effectiveness in "warming up" the body prior to participation in 90 minutes of downhill skiing. Eight subjects were randomly allocated and participated in both the warm-up and control conditions. Measurements were taken of rectal temperature, skin temperature, heart rate and flexibility prior to warm-up, immediately post-warm-up/immediately pre-skiing, and at 15min intervals during 90 minutes of skiing. The main analyses used were planned contrasts on repeated measures analysis of variance. Participation in the warm-up program resulted in significant increases in: rectal temperature (F(1,6) = 8.196; p = 0.008); heart rate (F(1,7) = 32.97, p < 0.001); and flexibility (F(1,6) = 10.14, p = 0.003) when compared with the control condition. These findings demonstrate that the program was effective in warming up the body.