Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory action of curcumin analog (DM1): Effect on iNOS and COX-2 gene expression and autophagy pathways.

This work describes the anti-inflammatory effect of the curcumin-analog compound, sodium 4-[5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-penta-1,4-dienyl]-2-methoxy-phenolate (DM1), and shows that DM1 modulates iNOS and COX-2 gene expression in cultured RAW 264.7 cells and induces autophagy on human melanoma cell line A375.

Dissolution properties, solid-state transformation and polymorphic crystallization: progesterone case study.

Progesterone is a natural steroid hormone and a poor soluble drug which presents two polymorphs (forms 1 and 2). Different methods to obtain form 2 were tested and a complete solid-state characterization of both polymorphs (forms 1 and 2) was conducted. X-ray powder diffraction, hot stage microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, dispersive Raman, (13)C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy techniques and intrinsic dissolution rates (IDR) were applied to investigate physical-chemical and dissolution properties of these two polymorphs. Form 2 was obtained from diluted solutions and from melting after cooling at room temperature. Form 1 was obtained from concentrated solutions and, a mixture of both polymorphs was crystallized from intermediate solutions. The crystal habit was not a distinctive characteristic of each polymorph. The effect of mechanical stress was evaluated in the metastable polymorph (form 2). We observed that grinding form 2 produced seeds of form 1 that induced the transformation of form 2 into form 1 at high temperature. The polymorphic quantification from XRD patterns of ground samples were carried out by the Rietveld method. After grinding and at room temperature conditions (∼25 °C), it was observed the transformation of 17% of form 2 into form 1 in 10 days.

Adjuvant effect of green propolis on humoral immune response of bovines immunized with bovine herpesvirus type 5.

Despite recent technological advances in vaccine production, most vaccines depend on the association with adjuvant substances. In this study, propolis, which has been attracting the attention of researchers due to its bioactive properties, was evaluated as an immunological adjuvant. The association of 40mg/dose of an ethanolic extract of green propolis with an inactivated oil vaccine against bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BoHV-5), resulted in a significant increase (P<0.01) in the neutralizing antibody levels, comparing to the bovines that received the same vaccine without propolis. Besides, propolis increased the percentage of animals with high antibody titers (above 32). Phenolic compounds such as artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) and the derivatives of cinnamic acid besides other flavonoid substances were abundant in the propolis extract used, and they could be the main substances with adjuvant action. The effect of the green propolis extract on the humoral immune response can be exploited in the development of new vaccines.

Immunomodulation produced by a green propolis extract on humoral and cellular responses of mice immunized with SuHV-1.

Despite recent technological advances in vaccine production, most the vaccines depend on the association with adjuvant substances. This work evaluated the adjuvant capacity of an ethanol extract of green propolis associated to inactivated Suid herpesvirus type 1 (SuHV-1) vaccine preparations. Mice inoculated with SuHV-1 vaccine plus aluminum hydroxide and 5mg/dose of propolis extract presented higher levels of antibodies when compared to animals that received the same vaccine without propolis. The use of SuHV-1 vaccine with propolis extract alone did not induce significant levels of antibodies, however it was able to increase the cellular immune response, evidenced by the increase in the expression of mRNA to IFN-gamma. Besides, propolis increased the percentage of protected animals against challenge with a lethal dose of SuHV-1. The effect of green propolis extract on the humoral and cellular immune responses may be exploited for the development of effective vaccines.

Análise - microscópia e MEV - da superficie do canal radicular após utilizacao do extrato de própolis a 0, 25 porcento, como irrigante / Analysis - macroscopic and SEM - of root canal surface after irrigation with 0, 25 propolis solution

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a superficie do canal radicular em relacão a coloracão e a limpeza (smear layer), após irrigacão com extrato de própolis a 0,25 porcento (Epl). Quarenta dentes foram seccionados na juncão amelo-cemetária. Vinte dentes foram utilizados para análise macroscópica. Para o controle, utilizou-se 5mm cervicais de cada dente. Dez raízes receberam irrigacão com NaOCI a 1 porcento (grupo I) e 10 com Epl (grupo II). Após isso, as raízes e controles foram clivados, limpos e fotografados. A estas 20 hemifaces foram adicionados o restante dos 20 dentes para análise em MEV, constituindo outros grupos: NaOCI a 1 porcento + EDTA a 17 porcento (III) e Epl+EDTA a 17 porcento (IV). Quatro examinadores cegos fizeram a análise das fotografias, atribuindo escores 0 (sem diferenca), 1 (controle mas claro) e 2 (controle mais escuro). Para smear layer os escores foram: 0 (ausência), 1 (túbulos abertos + smear) e 2 (smear). Resultados: correlacão - não houve diferenca, com não diferenca de coloracão entre o controle e as raízes. MEV - grupos I e II havendo presenca de smear. No grupo III e IV houve remocão de smear, sem haver diferenca estatística, porém no Rank de posicão o grupo III apresentou-se mais limpo, havendo smear plugs no IV. Conclui-se que não houve diferenca de coloracão entre o controle e a raiz preparada para ambas as solucoes; houve presenca de smear em ambas as solucoes, quando utilizadas isoladas; com associacão ao EDTA apesar de não haver diferenca estatística, o Epl permitiu a presenca de smear plugs, não ocorrendo para o NaOCI a 1 porcento