Effectiveness of a new rutin Cu(II) complex in the prevention of lipid peroxidation and hepatotoxicity in hypercholesterolemic rats.

A new rutin copper(II) complex (R-Cu2) was prepared and characterized by spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. The effects of rutin and R-Cu2 were evaluated on the prevention of hypercholesterolemia in animals feed with high-cholesterol diet (HCD) for 8 weeks. The animals (n = 5) were neither fed with HCD nor treated (control group), or were treated with vehicle, 10 mg/kg simvastatin, rutin (16 and 160 µmol/kg), and R-Cu2 (16 and 160 µmol/kg) administered orally. Total cholesterol (TC) levels were significantly increased (p < .01) in all HCD groups. In rutin and R-Cu2 groups, it was observed a discrete, but not significant, TC and LDL-induced increase inhibition compared with vehicle-treated group. R-Cu2 treatment significantly decreased (p < .05) plasma triglycerides compared with the vehicle-treated group. All groups receiving treatments maintained the malondialdehyde at normal levels. Serum NO levels were reduced in animals treated with rutin and R-Cu2 compared with the vehicle-treated group. In addition, the results also showed that the groups treated with rutin and R-Cu2 reduced significantly (p < .01), the number of neutrophils and prevented histological changes in all evaluated liver zones. R-Cu2 group maintained the ALT, AST, and ALP enzymes at normal levels. Thus, the effects of R-Cu2 in modulating inflammation and protecting liver damage were confirmed. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Rutin, a plant-derived flavonoid, is one of phenolic compounds well known as a nutraceutical due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Findings of this study demonstrate the effects of both rutin and R-Cu2 in modulating inflammation and protecting liver damage in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, some effects analyzed became more evident in R-Cu2. Thereby, it was shown that the synthesis of a new flavonoid compound (R-Cu2) could be applied as a nutraceutical benefit option to prevent hypercholesterolemia condition.

Clinical randomized trial study of hearing aids effectiveness in association with Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on tinnitus improvement / Estudo clínico randomizado da eficácia da prótese auditiva associada ao extrato de Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) na melhoria do zumbido

Abstract Introduction: Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound without its actual presence in the environment. It has been the subject of a great number of studies, especially considering its consequences on patient's quality of life. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of hearing aids and/or Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 on tinnitus in patients with hearing loss. Methods: This is a trial randomized-controlled treatment, parallel, double-blind, with three-arm. Thirty-three adults subjects were divided into three groups: group 1 — subjects undergoing drug therapy with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761; group 2 — individuals fitted with digital hearing aids; group 3 — individuals submitted to drug therapy with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 and using hearing aids. The tinnitus handicap inventory and visual analogue scale were used to evaluate self-perception of tinnitus loudness and severity before treatment and 90 days after treatment. Results: This study demonstrated a significant correlation between tinnitus handicap inventory and visual analogue scale, before and after treatment. We observed a significant improvement in self-perception of tinnitus loudness and severity after 90 days of treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 and/or hearing aids. No correlation was found between tinnitus onset time and self-perception of tinnitus loudness and severity. Hearing aids were more effective in patients with a shorter tinnitus onset time and Ginkgo biloba extract was effective regardless of tinnitus duration. Conclusions: It was possible to prove the effectiveness of the hearing aids and/or Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 treatment, which shows success in the control of tinnitus contributing to the improvement of this symptom.

Resumo Introdução: O zumbido é definido como a percepção de um som sem a sua presença real no ambiente e tem sido objeto de um grande número de estudos, especialmente devido às suas consequências na qualidade de vida do paciente. Objetivo: Investigar o efeito de próteses auditivas e/ou extrato de Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 sobre o zumbido em pacientes com perda auditiva. Método: Ensaio clínico randomizado controlado, paralelo, duplo-cego, com três braços. Trinta e três indivíduos adultos foram divididos em três grupos: Grupo 1 - indivíduos submetidos à terapia medicamentosa com extrato de Ginkgo biloba EGb 761; Grupo 2 - indivíduos equipados com próteses auditivas digitais; Grupo 3 - indivíduos submetidos à terapia medicamentosa com extrato de Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 e próteses auditivas. O Tinnitus handicap inventory e a escala visual analógica foram usados para avaliar a autopercepção de intensidade e da gravidade do zumbido antes do tratamento e 90 dias após o tratamento. Resultados: Este estudo demonstrou uma correlação significante entre o Tinnitus handicap inventory e a escala visual analógica, antes e após o tratamento. Observou-se melhoria significativa na autopercepção de loudness e da intensidade do zumbido após 90 dias de tratamento com extrato de Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 e/ou prótese auditiva. Não foi encontrada correlação entre o tempo de início do zumbido e a autopercepção da intensidade e gravidade do zumbido. As próteses auditivas foram mais eficazes em pacientes com menor tempo de início de zumbido e o extrato de Ginkgo biloba foi eficaz, independentemente da duração do zumbido. Conclusões: Foi possível comprovar a eficácia do tratamento com a prótese auditiva e/ou extrato de Ginkgo biloba EGb 761, o que demonstra sucesso no controle do zumbido e contribui para a melhoria desse sintoma.

Clinical randomized trial study of hearing aids effectiveness in association with Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on tinnitus improvement.

INTRODUCTION: Tinnitus is defined as the perception of sound without its actual presence in the environment. It has been the subject of a great number of studies, especially considering its consequences on patient's quality of life. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of hearing aids and/or Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 on tinnitus in patients with hearing loss. METHODS: This is a trial randomized-controlled treatment, parallel, double-blind, with three-arm. Thirty-three adults subjects were divided into three groups: group 1 - subjects undergoing drug therapy with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761; group 2 - individuals fitted with digital hearing aids; group 3 - individuals submitted to drug therapy with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 and using hearing aids. The tinnitus handicap inventory and visual analogue scale were used to evaluate self-perception of tinnitus loudness and severity before treatment and 90 days after treatment. RESULTS: This study demonstrated a significant correlation between tinnitus handicap inventory and visual analogue scale, before and after treatment. We observed a significant improvement in self-perception of tinnitus loudness and severity after 90 days of treatment with Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 and/or hearing aids. No correlation was found between tinnitus onset time and self-perception of tinnitus loudness and severity. Hearing aids were more effective in patients with a shorter tinnitus onset time and Ginkgo biloba extract was effective regardless of tinnitus duration. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to prove the effectiveness of the hearing aids and/or Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 treatment, which shows success in the control of tinnitus contributing to the improvement of this symptom.

Primary versus secondary hypertension in children followed up at an outpatient tertiary unit.

Childhood hypertension has classically been recognized as a secondary disease. However, primary hypertension also occurs in children. The aim of this study was to compare clinical features of pediatric patients with elevated blood pressure, which were referred to an outpatient tertiary unit, and to detect variables associated with the identification of primary hypertension. The records of 220 patients with hypertension followed between 1996 and 2006 were analyzed. The variable of interest was primary hypertension. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify clinical variables that were independently associated with primary hypertension. Of 220 patients, 33 (15%) had primary hypertension, and 187 (85%) exhibited secondary hypertension. No statistically significant differences were detected in gender, race, age at diagnosis, and systolic/diastolic blood pressure levels between both groups. After adjustment, four variables at baseline remained independently associated with primary hypertension: absence of signs/symptoms (OR 18.87, 95% CI 6.32-56.29), normal serum creatinine (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0.00-0.27), family history of hypertension (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.04-8.79), and elevated body weight (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10). The absence of signs/symptoms, normal serum creatinine, family history of hypertension, and overweight/obesity at admission are clues to diagnose primary hypertension in childhood.

Electrochemical and spectroscopic evidences of the interaction between DNA and Pt(II)(dppf)-complex.

The interaction of Pt(II)(dppf)-complex, namely [Pt(dppf)(H(2)O)(2)](2+) with DNA was investigated by DPV and (1)H-NMR techniques. The results showed that the interaction process has been characterized by changes in the electrochemical parameters of both compounds and the formation of a new anodic current peak close to the anodic current peak of the [Pt(dppf)(H(2)O)(2)](2+). In addition, the (1)H-NMR spectra show that the coordination of Pt(II)(dppf)-complex to dsDNA occurs via N(7) of guanine. Others parameters like pH and ionic strength that affect the interaction process were also investigated.

Development of hepatorenal syndrome in bile duct ligated rats.

AIM: To evaluate in bile duct ligated rats whether there were progressive alterations of renal function without changes in histopathology. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were submitted to sham-surgery or bile duct ligation (BDL) and divided according to the post-procedure time (2, 4 and 6-wk). To determine renal function parameters, rats were placed in metabolic cages and, at the end of the experiment, blood and urine samples were obtained. Histology and hydroxyproline content were analyzed in liver and renal tissue. RESULTS: Rats with 2 wk of BDL increased free water clearance (P = 0.02), reduced urinary osmolality (P = 0.03) and serum creatinine (P = 0.01) in comparison to the sham group. In contrast, rats at 6 wk of BDL showed features of HRS, including significant increase in serum creatinine and reductions in creatinine clearance, water excretion and urinary sodium concentration. Rats with 4 wk of BDL exhibited an intermediate stage of renal dysfunction. Progressive hepatic fibrosis according to post-procedure time was confirmed by histology. The increased levels of liver hydroxyproline contrasted with the absence of structural changes in the kidney, as assessed by histology and unchanged hydroxyproline content in renal tissue. CONCLUSION: Our data show that BDL produced progressive renal dysfunction without structural changes in the kidney, characterizing HRS. The present model will be useful to understand the pathophysiology of HRS.

Synthesis and characterization of a metal complex containing naringin and Cu, and its antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and tumor cell cytotoxicity.

The antioxidant activity of flavonoids is believed to increase when they are coordinated with transition metal ions. However, the literature on this subject is contradictory and the outcome seems to largely depend on the experimental conditions. In order to understand the contribution of the metal coordination and the type of interaction between a flavonoid and the metal ion, in this study a new metal complex of Cu (II) with naringin was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, UV-VIS, mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS), elemental analysis and 1H-NMR. The results of these analyses indicate that the complex has a Cu (II) ion coordinated via positions 4 and 5 of the flavonoid. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of this complex were studied and compared with the activity of free naringin. The Naringin-Cu (II) complex 1 showed higher antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and tumor cell cytotoxicity activities than free naringin without reducing cell viability.

Electrochemical and spectroscopic characterization of the interaction between DNA and Cu(II)-naringin complex.

In this work the interaction of DNA and the flavonoid-transition metal complex (Cu(II)-naringin complex) is characterized. The interaction was evaluated by using electrochemical ssDNA- and dsDNA-based biosensors and the results were supported by UV, CD and (1)H NMR data. In the electrochemical method, changes in the oxidation peak of the guanine and adenine bases obtained by square wave voltammetry (SWV) showed evidence of the interaction. The variations of the spectroscopic characteristics of DNA and Cu(II)-naringin complex in aqueous medium demonstrated that the predominant interaction mode may be by intercalation. Cu(II)-naringin complex interacts to dsDNA probably via N(7) of guanine site.

Circulating renin Angiotensin system in childhood chronic renal failure: marked increase of Angiotensin-(1-7) in end-stage renal disease.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate plasma renin activity (PRA) and Angiotensin (Ang) levels [Ang I, Ang II and Ang-(1-7)] to examine the circulating Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) in renal disease among children with different forms and stages of chronic renal failure (CRF). Subjects were divided as follows: 32 normotensive healthy subjects, 23 normotensive CRF subjects, 34 hypertensive CRF subjects and 21 subjects with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Radioimmunoassays for PRA (ngAngI/mL/h) and angiotensin (pg/mL) measurements were performed on all subjects. PRA, Ang I, Ang II and Ang-(1-7) levels were significantly higher in hypertensive CRF subjects when compared with normotensive CRF and healthy subjects (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). No differences were observed between normotensive CRF and healthy subjects. ESRD subjects exhibited a dramatic increase in Ang-(1-7) (25-fold higher than control values). In hypertensive CRF subjects, treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) increased (1.4-fold) plasma Ang-(1-7) and decreased (2.4-fold) Ang II. In ESRD, the use of ACEi produced a similar (1.5-fold) elevation of Ang-(1-7), but no changes in plasma Ang II. Our data showed different circulating RAS profiles between hypertensive and in normotensive CRF subjects. Marked changes in plasma Ang-(1-7) were associated with the presence of hypertension and progression of kidney dysfunction.

New method of surgical delayed closure of giant omphaloceles: Lazaro da Silva's technique.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The management of patients with a giant omphalocele remains a difficult problem. In this study, the authors described a new surgical approach for delayed closure of ventral hernia--the Lazaro da Silva's technique--in conservatively treated patients. METHODS: Ventral hernias of 11 conservatively treated patients were corrected by Lazaro da Silva's technique from 1987 to 2002 in Clinic's Hospital of UFMG. The surgical procedure consisted of the bilateral longitudinal fibroperitoneal-aponeurotic transposition, resulting in 3 different layers of closure. The evolution of these patients is reported. RESULTS: The presence of associated anomalies was observed in 8 patients (73%), with a predominance of cardiac defects. No alterations were associated with the use of silver sulfadiazine for epithelialization. Despite the size of the ventral hernia, no difficulties were related to the surgical procedure. Furthermore, no peri- and postoperative complications were observed. The hospital stay was approximately 8 days. The aesthetic result was excellent in all patients, and no recurrence of ventral hernia was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results lead to the conclusion that conservative management of giant omphaloceles with delayed closure of the ventral hernia using Lazaro da Silva's technique is a safe and reliable approach for treating these critically ill patients.