Antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and healing potential of ethyl acetate fraction of Bauhinia ungulata L. (Fabaceae) on in vitro and in vivo wound model

The present work aimed to investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing potential of ethyl acetate fraction from Bauhinia ungulata L. (FABU) on in vitro and in vivo models. Wound healing assay using human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line was employed to evaluate the ability of FABU in modulating cell migration. In addition, a surgical wound model in C57BL/6 mice was used to study the healing potential of FABU incorporated into gel carbomer 940 (Carbopol®). Evaluation of lipid peroxidation, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediator gene expression, rate of wound closure, and histological analysis were done. FABU significantly reduced the gap area in in vitro wound healing assay, 24 h after treatment. In the animal model, FABU at 0.5% topically applied once-daily for 5 days to the surgical wounds significantly reduced the lesion area. Moreover, it significantly decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation in the lesions and decreased the relative gene expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the injured region. In conclusion, our study suggests that Bauhinia ungulata can effectively promote the wound healing, probably by regulating the inflammatory environment during the early stages of the process.

Graphic abstract

     

Neurological symptoms and cerebrovascular accidents: manifestations of left-sided cardiac tumours in adults

We present two adult patients with a left-sided cardiac tumour in whom the diagnosis was established by transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography. They both presented with a cerebrovascular accident. Cardiac surgery for tumour excision was offered but refused by one and successfully performed in the other. In one of the patients, right femoro-crural bypass was undertaken because of arterial insufficiency. The patient who refused surgical intervention died secondary to severe septic shock. In the other patient serial transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography showed no tumour recurrence at four years of follow-up post tumour extirpation.     

Properdin factor B (Bf) polymorphism in Saudi Arabs. High frequency of a 'rare' allele BfS0.7

The distribution of properdin factor B (Bf) phenotypes and the gene frequencies were investigated in 918 Saudi Arabs. A high frequency of the 'rare' allele BFS0.7 was observed BfS0.7 = 0.1514). The frequencies of the common Bf alleles (BfS = 0.5174, BfF = 0.3213) are outside the corresponding ranges of BfS, BfF gene frequencies found in European Caucasoids.     

Genotype-phenotype correlation in neurofibromatosis type-1: NF1 whole gene deletions lead to high tumor-burden and increased tumor-growth

Neurofibromatosis type-1 (NF1) patients suffer from cutaneous and subcutaneous neurofibromas (CNF) and large plexiform neurofibromas (PNF). Whole gene deletions of the NF1 gene can cause a more severe phenotype compared to smaller intragenic changes. Two distinct groups of NF1 whole gene deletions are type-1 deletions and atypical deletions. Our aim was to assess volumes and averaged annual growth-rates of CNF and PNF in patients with NF1 whole gene deletions and to compare these with NF1 patients without large deletions of the NF1 gene.We retrospectively evaluated 140 whole-body MR examinations of 38 patients with NF1 whole gene deletions (type-1 group: n = 27/atypical group n = 11) and an age- and sex matched collective of 38 NF1-patients. Age-dependent subgroups were created (0–18 vs >18 years). Sixty-four patients received follow-up MRI examinations (NF1whole gene deletion n = 32/control group n = 32). Whole-body tumor-volumes were semi-automatically assessed (MedX, V3.42). Tumor volumes and averaged annual growth-rates were compared.Median tumor-burden was significantly higher in the type-1 group (418ml; IQR 77 – 950ml, p = 0.012) but not in the atypical group (356ml;IQR 140–1190ml, p = 0.099) when compared to the controls (49ml; IQR 11–691ml). Averaged annual growth rates were significantly higher in both the type-1 group (14%/year; IQR 45–36%/year, p = 0.004) and atypical group (11%/year; IQR 5–23%/year, p = 0.014) compared to the controls (4%/year; IQR1–8%/year). Averaged annual growth rates were significantly higher in pediatric patients with type-1 deletions (21%/year) compared with adult patients (8%/year, p = 0.014) and also compared with pediatric patients without large deletions of the NF1 gene (3.3%/year, p = 0.0015).NF1 whole gene deletions cause a more severe phenotype of NF1 with higher tumor burden and higher growth-rates compared to NF1 patients without large deletions of the NF1 gene. In particular, pediatric patients with type-1 deletions display a pronounced tumor growth.     

Effect of aflatoxin B-1 on the proteolytic activity of some lactic-acid bacteria

The proteolytic activity of five (ATCC) strains of lactic acid bacteria were investigated in the presence of different concentrations of aflatoxin B-1. The presented data revealed that aflatoxin in milk can affect the lactic acid bacteria which are used in the manufacture of dairy products. Such effect depends on toxin concentration and the species of lactic acid bacteria.This investigation is of practical value because it may explain the effect which occurs during cheese manufacture. This defect can be characterized by off flavour which can be very undesirable for a ripened cheese.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2-Oxo/Thioxoquinoxaline and 2-Oxo/Thioxoquinoxaline-Based Nucleoside Analogues

Several O- and S-quinoxaline glycosides have been prepared by glycosidation of 3-methyl-2-oxo(thioxo)-1,2-dihydroquinoxalines 1a,b with α-D-glucopyranosyl, α-D-galactopyranosyl, and α-D-lactosyl bromide in the presence of K₂CO₃ followed by deacetylation with Et₃N/H₂O. Furthermore, alkylation of 1a,b with 4-bromobutyl acetate, 2-acetoxyethoxymethyl bromide, and 3-chloropropanol afforded the corresponding O- and S-acycloquinoxaline nucleosides. Reaction of 1b with chloroacetic acid followed by condensation with sulfacetamide and sulfadiazine in the presence of Et₃N/THF and ethyl chloroformate gave the corresponding sulfonamide derivatives 14 and 15, respectively. The structures of new compounds were confirmed by using IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectra and microanalysis. Some of these compounds were screened in vitro for antitumor and antifungal activities.     

Modifications of the amide bond and conformational constraints in pseudopeptide analogues

We have investigated the conformational effects of modifying the amide group in model dipeptides. The N-methyl amide ψ[CO-NMe], N-hydroxy amide ψ[CO-N(OH)], N-amino amide ψ[ CO-N (NH₂)], retro amide ψ[ NH-CO], reduced amide in the neutral ψ[CH₂-NH] and protonated ψ[CH₂-N ⁺ H₂] state, and hydrazide ψ[CO-NH-NH] have been introduced as surrogates of the amide link in pseudopeptide derivatives of the Pro-Gly or Ala-Gly model dipeptides protected on both termini by an amide group. These compounds have been studied in solution by proton nmr and ir spectroscopy, and in the solid state by x-ray diffraction, giving an extended data set of experimental structural and conformational information on pseudopeptide sequences. The conformational effects depend both on the nature and the position of the modified amide link. Some modifications appear to have no intrinsic conformational induction (N-amino and retro amide), but destabilize any local folded structure by hydrogen-bond breaking. Because of the formation of strong intramolecular interactions, others are capable of stabilizing a β-turn (for example protonated reduced amide), or of inducing a particular local conformation such as a β- or γ-like turn (for example N-hydroxy amide). The particular geometry of the cis N-methyl amide and of the “hydrazino” proline favors the formation of a sharp turn of the main chain. All these structural data are of interest to the design of bioactive peptide mimics. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.