Human Lectins, Their Carbohydrate Affinities and Where to Find Them.

Lectins are a class of proteins responsible for several biological roles such as cell-cell interactions, signaling pathways, and several innate immune responses against pathogens. Since lectins are able to bind to carbohydrates, they can be a viable target for targeted drug delivery systems. In fact, several lectins were approved by Food and Drug Administration for that purpose. Information about specific carbohydrate recognition by lectin receptors was gathered herein, plus the specific organs where those lectins can be found within the human body.

Nanoparticles Based on Novel Carbohydrate-Functionalized Polymers.

Polymeric nanoparticles can be used for drug delivery systems in healthcare. For this purpose poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) offer an excellent polymeric matrix. In this work, PLGA and PEG polymers were functionalized with coumarin and carbohydrate moieties such as thymidine, glucose, galactose, and mannose that have high biological specificities. Using a single oil in water emulsion methodology, functionalized PLGA nanoparticles were prepared having a smooth surface and sizes ranging between 114-289 nm, a low polydispersity index and a zeta potential from -28.2 to -56.0 mV. However, for the corresponding PEG derivatives the polymers obtained were produced in the form of films due to the small size of the hydrophobic core.

Development of Novel Galactosylated PLGA Nanoparticles for Hepatocyte Targeting Using Molecular Modelling.

Doxorubicin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles conjugated with a new galactose-based ligand for the specific recognition by human hepatoma cellular carcinoma cells (Hep G2) were successfully produced. The new targeting compound was selected using molecular docking combined with quantum chemical calculations for modelling and comparing molecular interactions among the H1 subunit of the asialoglycoprotein receptor containing the carbohydrate recognition domain and the ligand. The ligand, bis(1-O-ethyl-ß-D-galactopyranosyl)amine, was synthetized, characterized, and subsequently linked to PLGA. Unloaded (PLGA-di-GAL NP) and doxorubicin-loaded (DOX-PLGA-di-GAL NP) nanoparticles were prepared using an emulsion method and characterized. The produced DOX-PLGA-di-GAL NP are spherical in shape with a size of 258 ± 47 nm, a zeta potential of -62.3 mV, and a drug encapsulation efficiency of 83%. The in vitro drug release results obtained show a three-phase release profile. In vitro cell studies confirmed the interaction between Hep G2 cells and PLGA-di-GAL NP. Cell cytotoxicity tests showed that unloaded NP are nontoxic and that DOX-PLGA-di-GAL NP caused a decrease of around 80% in cellular viability. The strategy used in this work to design new targeting compounds represents a promising tool to develop effective hepatocyte targeting drug delivery systems and can be applied to other tissues/organs.

Dietary Creatine Supplementation in Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata): Comparative Proteomics Analysis on Fish Allergens, Muscle Quality, and Liver.

The quality of fish flesh depends on the skeletal muscle's energetic state and delaying energy depletion through diets supplementation could contribute to the preservation of muscle's quality traits and modulation of fish allergens. Food allergies represent a serious public health problem worldwide with fish being one of the top eight more allergenic foods. Parvalbumins, have been identified as the main fish allergen. In this study, we attempted to produce a low allergenic farmed fish with improved muscle quality in controlled artificial conditions by supplementing a commercial fish diet with different creatine percentages. The supplementation of fish diets with specific nutrients, aimed at reducing the expression of parvalbumin, can be considered of higher interest and beneficial in terms of food safety and human health. The effects of these supplemented diets on fish growth, physiological stress, fish muscle status, and parvalbumin modulation were investigated. Data from zootechnical parameters were used to evaluate fish growth, food conversion ratios and hepatosomatic index. Physiological stress responses were assessed by measuring cortisol releases and muscle quality analyzed by rigor mortis and pH. Parvalbumin, creatine, and glycogen concentrations in muscle were also determined. Comparative proteomics was used to look into changes in muscle and liver tissues at protein level. Our results suggest that the supplementation of commercial fish diets with creatine does not affect farmed fish productivity parameters, or either muscle quality. Additionally, the effect of higher concentrations of creatine supplementation revealed a minor influence in fish physiological welfare. Differences at the proteome level were detected among fish fed with different diets. Differential muscle proteins expression was identified as tropomyosins, beta enolase, and creatine kinase among others, whether in liver several proteins involved in the immune system, cellular processes, stress, and inflammation response were modulated. Regarding parvalbumin modulation, the tested creatine percentages added to the commercial diet had also no effect in the expression of this protein. The use of proteomics tools showed to be sensitive to infer about changes of the underlying molecular mechanisms regarding fish responses to external stimulus, providing a holistic and unbiased view on fish allergens and muscle quality.

Doxorubicin-loaded galactose-conjugated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles as hepatocyte-targeting drug carrier.

The objective of this work is to produce doxorubicin-loaded galactose-conjugated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) to be specifically recognised by human hepatoma cellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cells and assess NPs cytotoxicity. Doxorubicin-unloaded and doxorubicin-loaded galactose-conjugated PLGA NPs were prepared using an emulsion method and characterised for morphology, size, drug release behaviour, Hep G2 recognition and cell cytotoxicity. The produced doxorubicin-loaded PLGA-galactose-conjugate nanoparticles (PLGA-GAL NPs) are spherical in shape with a size of 365 ± 74 nm, a drug encapsulation efficiency of 69% and released in a biphasic pattern with higher release rates at pH 5. In vitro cell studies confirmed the specific interaction between the receptors of Hep G2 and the PLGA-GAL NPs. Cell cytotoxicity tests showed that unloaded NPs are non-toxic and that doxorubicin-loaded NPs caused a cellular viability decrease of around 80%, therefore representing a promising approach to improve liver-specific drug delivery.

Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial and Antitumor Activities of Sucrose Octa(N-ethyl)carbamate.

Sucrose octa(N-ethyl)carbamate was synthesized directly from sucrose and ethyl isocyanate, and its structure was confirmed by various analytical methods, such as (1)H and (13)C NMR, FTIR, m.p., MS, and optical rotation. Its antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic activities were investigated. It exhibited strong inhibition against all bacteria tested, namely S. aureus (MIC 0.18±0.006), B. cereus (MIC 0.094±0.000), M. flavus (MIC 0.28±0.01), L. monocytogenes (MIC 0.18±0.006), P. aeruginosa (MIC 0.094±0.002), S. typhimurium (MIC 0.094±0.002), E. coli (MIC 0.18±0.006) and E. cloacae (MIC 0.18±0.006) and strong antifungal activity towards T. viride (MIC 0.09 ± 0.006), A. versicolor (MIC 0.18 ± 0.01), A. ochraceus (MIC 0.375 ± 0.01) and P. ochrochloron (MIC 0.375 ± 0.04). Furthermore, it showed moderate antitumor potential against human breast (GI50 357.20±14.12), colon (GI50 332.43±11.19) and cervical (GI50 282.67±3.97) cell lines and, more important, without hepatotoxicity.

Ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior: tratamiento homeopatico / Crossed anterior ligament rupture: homeopathic treatment

Este trabajo trata sobre la ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior y su tratamiento homeopatico. Se presentan dos casos

Ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior: tratamiento homeopático / Breaking of a crossed anterior ligament: homeopathic treatment

Este trabajo trata sobre la ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior y su tratamiento homeopático. Se presentan dos casos (AU)

Ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior: tratamiento homeopático / Breaking of a crossed anterior ligament: homeopathic treatment

Este trabajo trata sobre la ruptura del ligamento cruzado anterior y su tratamiento homeopático. Se presentan dos casos

Causticum / Causticum

La presente publicacion trata sobre el uso de Causticum en veterinaria homeopatica. Este remedio es raramente prescripto como medicamento constitucional y frecuentemente es olvidado como remedio local en enfermedades respiratorias, articulares, neurologicas y de piel. Este trabajo tiene por objeto demonstrar la accion de Causticum en desordenes neurologicos, centrales y perifericas. Finalmente, se presentan cierto numero de casos

Causticum / Causticum

La presente publicación trata sobre el uso de Causticum en veterinaria homeopática. Este remedio es raramente prescripto como medicamento constitucional y frecuentemente es olvidado como remedio local en enfermedades respiratorias, articulares, neurológicas y de piel. Este trabajo tiene por objeto demostrar la acción de Causticum en desórdenes neurológicos, centrales y periféricos. Finalmente, se presentan cierto número de casos (AU)

Causticum / Causticum

La presente publicación trata sobre el uso de Causticum en veterinaria homeopática. Este remedio es raramente prescripto como medicamento constitucional y frecuentemente es olvidado como remedio local en enfermedades respiratorias, articulares, neurológicas y de piel. Este trabajo tiene por objeto demostrar la acción de Causticum en desórdenes neurológicos, centrales y periféricos. Finalmente, se presentan cierto número de casos