Crosstalk between Exercise-Derived Endocannabinoidome and Kynurenines: Potential Target Therapies for Obesity and Depression Symptoms.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) and the endocannabinoid system (ECS) are known to be deregulated in depression and obesity; however, it has been recognized that acute physical exercise has an important modulating role inducing changes in the mobilization of their respective metabolites-endocannabinoids (eCBs) and kynurenines (KYNs)-which overlap at some points, acting as important antidepressant, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant biomarkers. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze and discuss some recently performed studies to investigate the potential interactions between both systems, particularly those related to exercise-derived endocannabinoidome and kynurenine mechanisms, and to elucidate how prescription of physical exercise could represent a new approach for the clinical management of these two conditions.

Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Pteropodine in Rodents.

Pteropodine (PT) is a component of some plants with potentially useful pharmacological activities for humans. This compound has biomedical properties related to the modulation of the immune system, nervous system, and inflammatory processes. This study addresses the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of pteropodin in a murine model of arthritis and induced edema of the mouse ear. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, we used the reversed passive Arthus reaction (RPAR), which includes the rat paw edema test, the rat pleurisy test, and a mouse ear edema model. The antioxidant effect of PT was evaluated by determining the myeloperoxidase enzyme activity. PT showed an anti-inflammatory effect in the different specific and non-specific tests. We found a 51, 66 and 70% inhibitory effect of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg of PT, respectively, in the rat paw edema test. In the pleurisy assay, 40 mg/kg of PT induced a low neutrophil count (up to 36%) when compared to the negative control group, and 20 mg/kg of PT increased the content of lymphocytes by up to 28% and the pleural exudate volume decreased by 52% when compared to the negative control group, respectively. We also found an 81.4% inflammatory inhibition of the edema ear with 0.04 mg/ear of PT, and a significant myeloperoxidase enzyme inhibition by the three doses of PT tested. We conclude that PT exerted a potent anti-inflammatory effect in the acute inflammation model in rodents.

Detection and expression of SapS, a class C nonspecific acid phosphatase with O-phospho-Ltyrosine- phosphatase activity, in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with chronic osteomyelitis / Detección y expresión de SapS, una fosfatasa ácida no específica de clase C con actividad de fosfatasa O-fosfotirosina, en aislamientos de Staphylococcus aureus de pacientes con osteomielitis crónica

INTRODUCTION: The identity of Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors involved in chronic osteomyelitis remains unresolved. SapS is a class C non-specific acid phosphatase and a well-known virulence factor that has been identified in S. aureus strain 154 but in protein extracts from rotting vegetables. OBJECTIVE: To identify the SapS gene and characterize the activity of SapS from S. aureus strains: 12 isolates from bone infected samples of patients treated for chronic osteomyelitis and 49 from a database with in silico analysis of complete bacterial genomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SapS gene was isolated and sequenced from 12 S. aureus clinical isolates and two reference strains; 49 S. aureus strains and 11 coagulase-negative staphylococci were tested using in silico PCR. Culture media semi-purified protein extracts from the clinical strains were assayed for phosphatase activity with p-nitro-phenylphosphate, O-phospho-L-tyrosine, O-phospho-L-serine, and OphosphoL-threonine in conjunction with various phosphatase inhibitors. RESULTS: SapS was detected in the clinical and in-silico S. aureus strains, but not in the in silico coagulase-negative staphylococci strains. Sec-type I lipoprotein-type N-terminal signal peptide sequences; secreted proteins, and aspartate bipartite catalytic domains coding sequences were found in the SapS nucleotide and amino acid sequence analysis. SapS dephosphorylated with p-nitro-phenyl-phosphate and ophosphoLtyrosine were selectively resistant to tartrate and fluoride, but sensitive to vanadate and molybdate. CONCLUSION: SapS gene was found in the genome of the clinical isolates and the in silico Staphylococcus aureus strains. SapS shares biochemical similarities with known virulent bacterial, such as protein tyrosine phosphatases, suggesting it may be a virulence factor in chronic osteomyelitis.

Introducción: Se desconoce la identidad de los factores de virulencia de Staphylococcus aureus implicados en la osteomielitis crónica. Sin embargo, SapS, una fosfatasa ácida no específica de clase C, es un factor de virulencia reconocido y ya fue identificada en la cepa 154 de S. aureus, pero en extractos proteicos de vegetales podridos. Objetivo: Detectar el gen SapS y caracterizar la actividad de la fosfatasa SapS en cepas de S. aureus aisladas de pacientes con osteomielitis crónica y en las reportadas en una base de datos de análisis in silico de genomas bacterianos completos. Materiales y métodos: Se aisló y secuenció el gen SapS en los 12 aislamientos clínicos de S. aureus y en dos cepas de referencia; estas secuencias se analizaron junto con las secuencias de las cepas reportadas en la base de datos de genomas bacterianos: 49 cepas de S. aureus y 11 cepas de estafilococos negativos para coagulasa. Se evalúo la actividad de la fosfatasa SapS, presente en los extractos de los sobrenadantes de los cultivos de las cepas clínicas, mediante la hidrólisis de fosfato p-nitrofenil, O-fosfo-Ltirosina, O-fosfo-L serina y O-fosfo-L treonina junto con varios inhibidores de fosfatasas. Resultados: Se detectó el gen SapS en el genoma de las cepas clínicas y en las 49 cepas de S. aureus analizadas in silico, pero no en las 11 cepas de estafilococos negativos para coagulasa. La secuenciación de SapS reveló un péptido señal presente en el extremo N-terminal de proteínas extracelulares y los dominios bipartitos de aspartato (DDDD) en su sitio catalítico. SapS hidroliza selectivamente el fosfato p-nitrofenil y la O-fosfo-L-tirosina, pero es sensible a vanadato y molibdato. Conclusión: Se encontró SapS en el genoma de S. aureus de las cepas clínicas y de las cepas de simulación computacional. La SapS con actividad específica para la hidrólisis de la O-fosfo-L-tirosina comparte similitudes bioquímicas con las fosfatasas-tirosina bacterianas, por lo que puede formar parte de la red de factores de virulencia de la osteomielitis crónica.

Detection and expression of SapS, a class C nonspecific acid phosphatase with O-phospho-L- tyrosine-phosphatase activity, in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with chronic osteomyelitis / Detección y expresión de SapS, una fosfatasa ácida no específica de clase C con actividad de fosfatasa O-fosfotirosina, en aislamientos de Staphylococcus aureus de pacientes con osteomielitis crónica

Introduction. The identity of Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors involved in chronic osteomyelitis remains unresolved. SapS is a class C non-specific acid phosphatase and a well-known virulence factor that has been identified in S. aureus strain 154 but in protein extracts from rotting vegetables. Objective. To identify the SapS gene and characterize the activity of SapS from S. aureus strains: 12 isolates from bone infected samples of patients treated for chronic osteomyelitis and 49 from a database with in silico analysis of complete bacterial genomes. Materials and methods. The SapS gene was isolated and sequenced from 12 S. aureus clinical isolates and two reference strains; 49 S. aureus strains and 11 coagulase-negative staphylococci were tested using in silico PCR. Culture media semi-purified protein extracts from the clinical strains were assayed for phosphatase activity with p-nitro-phenyl- phosphate, O-phospho-L-tyrosine, O-phospho-L-serine, and OphosphoL-threonine in conjunction with various phosphatase inhibitors. Results. SapS was detected in the clinical and in-silico S. aureus strains, but not in the in silico coagulase-negative staphylococci strains. Sec-type I lipoprotein-type N-terminal signal peptide sequences; secreted proteins, and aspartate bipartite catalytic domains coding sequences were found in the SapS nucleotide and amino acid sequence analysis. SapS dephosphorylated with p-nitro-phenyl-phosphate and ophosphoLtyrosine were selectively resistant to tartrate and fluoride, but sensitive to vanadate and molybdate. Conclusion. SapS gene was found in the genome of the clinical isolates and the in silico S. aureus strains. SapS shares biochemical similarities with known virulent bacterial, such as protein tyrosine phosphatases, suggesting it may be a virulence factor in chronic osteomyelitis.

Introducción. Se desconoce la identidad de los factores de virulencia de Staphylococcus aureus implicados en la osteomielitis crónica. Sin embargo, SapS, una fosfatasa ácida no específica de clase C, es un factor de virulencia reconocido y ya fue identificada en la cepa 154 de S. aureus, pero en extractos proteicos de vegetales podridos. Objetivo. Detectar el gen SapS y caracterizar la actividad de la fosfatasa SapS en cepas de S. aureus aisladas de pacientes con osteomielitis crónica y en las reportadas en una base de datos de análisis in silico de genomas bacterianos completos. Materiales y métodos. Se aisló y secuenció el gen SapS en los 12 aislamientos clínicos de S. aureus y en dos cepas de referencia; estas secuencias se analizaron junto con las secuencias de las cepas reportadas en la base de datos de genomas bacterianos: 49 cepas de S. aureus y 11 cepas de estafilococos negativos para coagulasa. Se evalúo la actividad de la fosfatasa SapS, presente en los extractos de los sobrenadantes de los cultivos de las cepas clínicas, mediante la hidrólisis de fosfato p-nitrofenil, O-fosfo-L- tirosina, O-fosfo-L serina y O-fosfo-L treonina junto con varios inhibidores de fosfatasas. Resultados. Se detectó el gen SapS en el genoma de las cepas clínicas y en las 49 cepas de S. aureus analizadas in silico, pero no en las 11 cepas de estafilococos negativos para coagulasa. La secuenciación de SapS reveló un péptido señal presente en el extremo N-terminal de proteínas extracelulares y los dominios bipartitos de aspartato (DDDD) en su sitio catalítico. SapS hidroliza selectivamente el fosfato p-nitrofenil y la O-fosfo-L-tirosina, pero es sensible a vanadato y molibdato. Conclusión. Se encontró SapS en el genoma de S. aureus de las cepas clínicas y de las cepas de simulación computacional. La SapS con actividad específica para la hidrólisis de la O-fosfo-L-tirosina comparte similitudes bioquímicas con las fosfatasas-tirosina bacterianas, por lo que puede formar parte de la red de factores de virulencia de la osteomielitis crónica.

Investigation of the DNA Damage and Oxidative Effect Induced by Venlafaxine in Mouse Brain and Liver Cells.

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant used worldwide. Therefore, studies to confirm its safe use are mandatory. This report evaluated the drug DNA damage capacity in the brain and liver of ICR mice, and its oxidative effect on DNA, lipids, and proteins, as well as the amount of nitrites, also in the brain and liver. Determinations were made at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h post-treatment, excluding DNA oxidation that was observed at 2 h. The tested doses of venlafaxine were 5, 50, and 250 mg/kg. The results showed DNA damage in the brain with the two more elevated doses of venlafaxine at 2 and 6 h post-treatment and also at 12 h in the liver. The comet assay plus the FPG enzyme showed DNA damage in both organs with all doses. The two high doses increased lipoperoxidation in the two tissues from 6 to 12 h post-administration. Protein oxidation increased with the three doses, mainly from 2 to 12 h, and nitrite content was elevated only with the high dose in the liver. The drug was found to affect both tissues, although it was more pronounced in the liver. Interestingly, DNA oxidative damage was observed even with a dose that corresponds to the therapeutic range. The clinical relevance of these findings awaits further investigations.

Phaseolin, a Protein from the Seed of Phaseolus vulgaris, Has Antioxidant, Antigenotoxic, and Chemopreventive Properties.

The present report was designed to determine the antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of phaseolin (isolated from Phaseolus vulgaris) against mouse colon and liver damage induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and its colon chemopreventive effect. Eight groups with 12 mice each were utilized for an eight-week experiment: the control group was intragastrically (ig) administered 0.9% saline solution; the positive control group was intraperitoneally (ip) injected with 7.5 mg/kg AOM twice a week (weeks three and four of the experiment); three groups were ig administered each day with phaseolin (40, 200, and 400 mg/kg); and three groups were ig administered phaseolin daily (40, 200, and 400 mg/kg) plus 7.5 mg/kg AOM twice a week in weeks three and four of the experiment. The results showed that phaseolin did not produce oxidative stress, DNA damage, or aberrant crypts; in contrast, 100% inhibition of lipoperoxidation, protein oxidation, and nitrites induction generated by AOM was found in both organs, and DPPH radical capture occurred. The two highest phaseolin doses reduced DNA damage induced by AOM in both organs by more than 90% and reduced the AOM-induced aberrant crypts by 84%. Therefore, our study demonstrated the strong in vivo antioxidant, antigenotoxic, and chemopreventive potential of phaseolin.

Genotoxic and oxidative effect of duloxetine on mouse brain and liver tissues.

We evaluated the duloxetine DNA damaging capacity utilizing the comet assay applied to mouse brain and liver cells, as well as its DNA, lipid, protein, and nitric oxide oxidative potential in the same cells. A kinetic time/dose strategy showed the effect of 2, 20, and 200 mg/kg of the drug administered intraperitoneally once in comparison with a control and a methyl methanesulfonate group. Each parameter was evaluated at 3, 9, 15, and 21 h postadministration in five mice per group, except for the DNA oxidation that was examined only at 9 h postadministration. Results showed a significant DNA damage mainly at 9 h postexposure in both organs. In the brain, with 20 and 200 mg/kg we found 50 and 80% increase over the control group (p ≤ 0.05), in the liver, the increase of 2, 20, and 200 mg/kg of duloxetine was 50, 80, and 135% in comparison with the control level (p ≤ 0.05). DNA, lipid, protein and nitric oxide oxidation increase was also observed in both organs. Our data established the DNA damaging capacity of duloxetine even with a dose from the therapeutic range (2 mg/kg), and suggest that this effect can be related with its oxidative potential.

Pharmacokinetic parameters of ifosfamide in mouse pre-administered with grapefruit juice or naringin.

Grapefruit juice (GFJ) and naringin when consumed previously or together with medications may alter their bioavailavility and consequently the clinical effect. Ifosfamide (IF) is an antitumoral agent prescribed against various types of cancer. Nevertheless, there is no information regarding its interaction with the ingestion of GFJ or naringin. The aims of the present report were validating a method for the quantitation of IF in the plasma of mouse, and determine if mice pretreated with GFJ or naringin may modify the IF pharmacokinetics. Our HPLC results to quantify IF showed adequate intra and inter-day precision (RSD < 15%) and accuracy (RE < 15%) indicating reliability. Also, the administration of GFJ or naringin increased Cmax of IF 22.9% and 17.8%, respectively, and decreased Tmax of IF 19.2 and 53.8%, respectively. The concentration of IF was higher when GFJ (71.35 ± 3.5 µg/mL) was administered with respect to that obtained in the combination naringin with IF (64.12 ± µg/mL); however, the time required to reach such concentration was significantly lower when naringin was administered (p < 0.5). We concluded that pre-administering GFJ and naringin to mice increased the Tmax and decreased the Cmax of IF.

EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY CAPACITY OF BETA-SITOSTEROL IN RODENT ASSAYS.

BACKGROUND: Beta-sitosterol (BS) is a compound discovered to be present in numerous plants. A number of interesting biomedical properties have been attributed to BS, including immuno-modulating and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, the aim of this report was to evaluate its anti-inflammatory capacity by applying various rodent experimental tests. METHODS: To carry out the objective of the study we applied the methods indicated here. Two of the adopted methods were based on the passive reverse Arthus reaction: the rat paw edema test and the rat pleurisy assay. We also applied two methods related with the non-specific acute inflammation: the mouse ear edema test, and the mouse mieloperoxidase activity assay. RESULTS: The results obtained in all tests established a significant anti-inflammatory potential of BS. In the rat paw edema test we found an inhibitory effect which goes from 50-70%; in the rat pleurisy assay our findings with respect to the volume of pleural exuded showed a reduction of 46%, as well as a 20% low amount of neutrophils in comparison with the level of the control group. In the mouse ear edema test we found a mean inflammatory inhibition of 75%, and with respect to mieloproxidase activity the results showed a significant inhibition induced by the three doses of BS. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study we determined a potent anti-inflammatory capacity of BS in specific and non-specific types of acute inflammation in rodents.

Evidence of Some Natural Products with Antigenotoxic Effects. Part 1: Fruits and Polysaccharides.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. The agents capable of causing damage to genetic material are known  as genotoxins and, according to their mode of action, are classified into mutagens, carcinogens or teratogens. Genotoxins are  involved in the pathogenesis of several chronic degenerative diseases including hepatic, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular  disorders, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, chronic inflammation and ageing. In recent decades, researchers have found novel bioactive  phytocompounds able to counteract the effects of physical and chemical mutagens. Several  studies  have  shown potential antigenotoxicity in a variety of fruits. In this review (Part 1), we present an overview of research conducted on some fruits (grapefruit, cranberries, pomegranate, guava, pineapple, and mango) which are frequentl consumed by humans, as well as  the  analysis of some phytochemicals extracted from fruits and yeasts which have demonstrated antigenotoxic capacity in various  tests, including the Ames assay, sister chromatid exchange, chromosomal aberrations, micronucleus and comet assay.

Análisis molecular por PCR múltiple anidada para virus de la familia herpes en la parálisis facial periférica idiopática / Molecular analysis by multiplex nested PCR for herpes virus family in idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis

En el Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, la parálisis facial periférica idiopática (PFPI) ocupa uno de los diez primeros lugares de atención. Su etiología aún es desconocida; sin embargo, se han identificado los virus de la familia herpes (HSV) como posibles agentes causales. Objetivo: Detectar el ADN de virus HSV-1 y HVS-2, citomegalovirus (CMV) y varicela zóster (VZV) en pacientes con PFPI y correlacionar su presencia con la presentación clínica de la enfermedad. Métodos: Se extrajo el ADN de la fracción leucocitaria de 62 muestras de pacientes con PFPI. La amplificación del ADN viral se realizó por PCR múltiple anidada con oligonucleótidos específicos para cada virus. La determinación de IgG e IgMse realizó por el método de ELISA. Resultados: La PCR mostró 22 (35.5%) casos positivos para HSV-1,1(1.6%) para HSV-2, 1 (1.6%) para VZV, 3 (4.8%) para CMV. La seroprevalencia mostró que 55 (88.7%) casos presentaron niveles altos de IgG para HSV-1 y 2, 2 (3.22%) para IgG-VZV y 5 (8.1%) para IgMCMV. Tanto los casos positivos como los negativos para HSV-1 no establecieron diferencias significativas con la edad, sexo, lateralidad, síntomas, grado de parálisis facial y la temporada en la que se presentó la parálisis. Conclusión: El virus más frecuente encontrado en nuestros pacientes fue el HSV-1 lo que sugiere una fuerte asociación entre la presencia de HSV-1 y la aparición de PFPI...

Bell's palsy. A prospective, longitudinal, descriptive, and observational analysis of prognosis factors for recovery in Mexican patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognosis factors in Mexican patients with Bell's palsy. DESIGN: We designed a prospective, longitudinal, descriptive, and observational analysis. Two hundred and fifty one patients diagnosed with Bell's palsy at the National Institute of Rehabilitation were included. We studied the sociodemographic characteristics, seasonal occurrence, sidedness, symptoms, and therapeutic options to determine the prognostic factors for their recovery. RESULTS: Thirty-nine percent of patients had a complete recovery and 41.5% had an incomplete recovery. Marital status, gender, etiology, symptoms, sidedness, House-Brackmann grade, and treatments did not represent significant prognostic factors for recovery. Age > 40 years (OR = 2.4, IC 95% 1.3-4.3, p = 0.002) and lack of physical therapy (OR = 6.4, IC 95% 1.4-29.6, p = 0.006) were significant prognostic factors for incomplete recovery. Familial palsy resulted to be a protective prognostic factor against an incomplete recovery (OR = 0.54, IC 95% 0.28-1.01, p = 0.039). This protection factor was only significant in female patients (OR = 0.41, p = 0.22) but not in male patients (OR = 1.0, p = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of cases with incomplete recovery was high. The age > 40 years and lack of physical therapy were the only significant prognostic factors for an incomplete recovery.

Antigenotoxic, antioxidant and lymphocyte induction effects produced by pteropodine.

Pteropodine is a heterohimbine-type oxindole alkaloid specifically isolated from 'Cat's claw' (Uncaria tomentosa), a plant that has shown cytostatic, anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic properties and is used in traditional medicine to cure a number of diseases. In this report, we studied the ability of pteropodine to decrease the rate of sister-chromatid exchanges and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice administered doxorubicin. We also determined its capacity to induce lymphocyte production in mice as well as its free radical scavenging potential by applying the DPPH assay. We found pteropodine (100-600 mg/kg) to significantly decrease the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges and micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in mice administered with 10 mg/kg of doxorubicin. Furthermore, we determined that pteropodine partially corrected bone marrow cytotoxicity induced by doxorubicin, as it showed an improvement in the rate of polychromatic erythrocytes. Besides, 600 mg/kg of pteropodine increased 25.8% of the production of lymphocytes over the control value along a 96-hr assay, and it exhibited a strong capacity to trap the DPPH-free radical (98.26% with 250 microg/ml). Our results establish that pteropodine is an effective antimutagen in the model used, and suggest that pteropodine deserves further research in the area of cell protective potential and its mechanism of action.