Influence of desoxycorticosterone on the response of coronary artery segments to adrenaline in the presence of pyrogallol

The effect of desoxycorticosterone on the adrenaline-induced relaxation of coronary arteries was studied in vitro, after a known inhibitor of COMT, pyrogallol. Relaxation induced by adrenaline was enhanced by desoxycorticosterone. Relaxation in response to adrenaline was increased by desoxycorticosterone. Pyrogallol potentiated the responses of coronary strips to adrenaline and also reduced or abolished the enhancing effects of desoxycorticosterone. It is concluded that desoxycorticosterone enhances the response of coronary smooth muscle to adrenaline by inhibiting an enzymatic pathway for the inactivation of catecholamines.     

Influence of desoxycorticosterone on the response of calf coronary artery strips to adrenaline

The effect of desoxycorticosterone on the adrenaline-induced relaxation of coronary arteries was studied "in vitro". It resulted that the effect of adrenaline was enhanced by desoxycorticosterone. It is concluded that desoxycorticosterone potentiates the effects of adrenaline by inhibiting its inactivation by Catechol-O-methyltransferase.     

Antimicrobial and antiviral activity-guided fractionation from Scutia buxifolia Reissek extracts

Antimicrobial and antiviral activities of the fractions from Scutia buxifolia stem bark and leaves were evaluated. Best antimicrobial results occurred with the ethyl acetate (EA) and n-butanolic (NB) fractions from the leaves against Micrococcus sp. (minimal inhibitory concentration—MIC = 62.5 μg/ml), and NB fraction from stem bark and leaves against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis (MIC = 62.5 μg/ml). The most active fractions were selected and fractioned into silica column to perform an in vitro antibiofilm assay, which evidenced subfractions EA2 and EA3 as the more active against Candida albicans (biofilm inhibitory concentration—BIC = 582 ± 0.01 μg/ml) and Staphylococcus aureus (BIC = 360 ± 0.007 μg/ml), respectively. The NB (selectivity index—SI = 25.78) and the EA (SI = 15.97) fractions from the stem bark, and the EA (SI = 14.13) fraction from the leaves exhibited a potential antiviral activity towards Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 whereas EA2 and EA3 subfractions from leaves (SI = 12.59 and 10.06, respectively), and NB2 subfraction from stem bark (SI = 12.34) maintained this good activity. Phenolic acids and flavonoids (gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin and quercetin) were identified by HPLC and may be partially responsible for the antimicrobial and antiherpes activities observed. The results obtained in this study showed that Scutia buxifolia has antibiofilm and anti-herpetic activities and that these properties are reported for the first time for this species.     

The TNF-Family Cytokine TL1A Inhibits Proliferation of Human Activated B Cells

Death receptor (DR3) 3 is a member of the TNFR superfamily. Its ligand is TNF-like ligand 1A (TL1A), a member of the TNF superfamily. TL1A/DR3 interactions have been reported to modulate the functions of T cells, NK, and NKT cells and play a crucial role in driving inflammatory processes in several T-cell-dependent autoimmune diseases. However, TL1A expression and effects on B cells remain largely unknown. In this study, we described for the first time that B cells from human blood express significant amounts of DR3 in response to B cell receptor polyclonal stimulation. The relevance of these results has been confirmed by immunofluorescence analysis in tonsil and spleen tissue specimens, which showed the in situ expression of DR3 in antigen-stimulated B cells in vivo. Remarkably, we demonstrated that TL1A reduces B-cell proliferation induced by anti-IgM-antibodies and IL-2 but did not affect B-cell survival, suggesting that TL1A inhibits the signal(s) important for B-cell proliferation. These results revealed a novel function of TL1A in modulating B-cell proliferation in vitro and suggest that TL1A may contribute to homeostasis of effector B-cell functions in immune response and host defense, thus supporting the role of the TL1A/DR3 functional axis in modulating the adaptive immune response.     

Genetic diversity and structure of the critically endangered tree Dimorphandra wilsonii and of the widespread in the Brazilian Cerrado Dimorphandra mollis: Implications for conservation

We performed a comparative analysis of the genetic diversity and structure of two congeneric tree species, one critically endangered, with only 21 known individuals in the wild, Dimorphandra wilsonii, and the other widely distributed Dimorphandra mollis. Eight populations of D. mollis and all known trees of D. wilsonii, from three areas, were screened for variability with ISSR markers. Percentage of polymorphic bands, Nei's gene diversity and Shannon's index were considerably lower in D. wilsonii (P = 40.0%, h = 0.124 and I = 0.190), as compared to D. mollis (P = 70.4%, h = 0.190 and I = 0.297). Bayesian clustering showed that D. wilsonii individuals are clustered in three populations, which had high differentiation among them. Several measures for their conservation were suggested: protection of all extant populations, ex situ conservation of seeds, production of saplings in nurseries and foundation of new populations in reserve areas.     

Evaluation of three indices for biofilm accumulation on complete dentures

doi:10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2009.00285.x
Evaluation of three indices for biofilm accumulation on complete dentures Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of three complete denture biofilm indices (Prosthesis Hygiene Index; Jeganathan et al. Index; Budtz‐Jørgensen Index) by means of a computerised comparison method. Background: Clinical studies into denture hygiene have employed a large number of biofilm indices among their outcome variables. However, the knowledge about the validity of these indices is still scarce. Materials and methods: Sixty‐two complete denture wearers were selected. The internal surfaces of the upper complete dentures were stained (5% erythrosine) and photographed. The slides were projected on paper, and the biofilm indices were applied over the photos by means of a scoring method. For the computerised method, the areas (total and biofilm‐covered) were measured by dedicated software (Image Tool). In addition, to compare the results of the computerised method and Prosthetic Hygiene Index, a new scoring scale (including four and five graded) was introduced. For the Jeganathan et al. and Budtz‐Jørgensen indices, the original scales were used. Values for each index were compared with the computerised method by the Friedman test. Their reproducibility was measured by means of weighed κ. Significance for both tests was set at 0.05. Results: The indices tested provided similar mean measures but they tended to overestimate biofilm coverage when compared with the computerised method (p < 0.001). Agreement between the Prosthesis Hygiene Index and the computerised method was not significant, regardless of the scale used. Jeghanathan et al. Index showed weak agreement, and consistent results were found for Budtz‐Jorgensen Index (κ = 0.19 and 0.39 respectively). Conclusion: Assessment of accuracy for the biofilm indices showed instrument bias that was similar among the tested methods. Weak inter‐instrument reproducibility was found for the indices, except for the Budtz‐Jørgensen Index. This should be the method of choice for clinical studies when more sophisticated approaches are not possible.     

Evaluation of serum protein electrophoresis in greater rhea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhea americana</Emphasis> Linnaeus, 1758)

Serum proteins from 47 healthy greater rheas (Rhea americana; male and female) were separated by electrophoresis in order to characterize normal reference ranges. Determination of total protein concentration was performed through biuret reaction. The mean value of total serum protein was 4.4 g/dL. Absolute concentrations of serum proteins were determined by agarose gel electrophoretic fractioning. Five fractions were analyzed: albumin, alpha, beta1, beta2, and gamma globulins, and the average values in grams per deciliter were 2.39, 0.32, 0.45, 0.30, and 0.79, respectively.     

A novel synthetic na?ve human antibody library allows the isolation of antibodies against a new epitope of oncofetal fibronectin

Human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) can routinely be isolated from phage display libraries against virtually any protein available in sufficient purity and quantity, but library design can influence epitope coverage on the target antigen. Here we describe the construction of a novel synthetic human antibody phage display library that incorporates hydrophilic or charged residues at position 52 of the CDR2 loop of the variable heavy chain domain, instead of the serine residue found in the corresponding germline gene. The novel library was used to isolate human mAbs to various antigens, including the alternatively-spliced EDA domain of fibronectin, a marker of tumor angiogenesis. In particular, the mAb 2H7 was proven to bind to a novel epitope on EDA, which does not overlap with the one recognized by the clinical-stage F8 antibody. F8 and 2H7 were used for the construction of chelating recombinant antibodies (CRAbs), whose tumor-targeting properties were assessed in vivo in biodistribution studies in mice bearing F9 teratocarcinoma, revealing a preferential accumulation at the tumor site.Key words: human antibody library, phage display, oncofetal fibronectin, vascular tumor targeting, scFv antibody fragments, chelating recombinant antibody (CRAb)     

Applicability of RAPD markers on silver-stained polyacrylamide gels to ascertain genetic diversity in Peripatus acacioi (Peripatidae; Onychophora)

RAPD (random amplification of polymorphic DNA) molecular markers can be utilized for analyzing genetic variability in populations for which only a few or no molecular markers are available. They were used in a study of an endangered species, Peripatus acacioi, found in the Tripuí Ecological Station, in Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil. The ecological station was specifically created to protect this velvet worm species, the first of this group found in Brazil. For an initial evaluation of the genetic diversity of this species, DNA samples from the lobopods of four individuals, collected at random, were analyzed using RAPD. Each reaction was run with a different primer (Operon RAPD 10-mer Kits), totaling 13 primers (OPC2, OPC3, OPC4, OPC6, OPC8, OPC10, OPC11, OPL2, OPL7, OPL11, OPL13, OPL18, and OPL19). Due to the low amplification yield, RAPD fragments were separated in polyacrylamide gels and stained with silver nitrate. Numerous bands were observed. Fifty-five of the amplified bands proved to be reproducible, both in terms of presence and intensity. Among these, 27 were variable and 28 were constant. The average number of bands per gel was 4.2. Nine of the 13 primers tested allowed the identification of constant and variable bands among these four individuals. RAPD analysis of genetic variation using silver-stained polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis provided measures of band sharing among the individuals, and therefore could be used in population genetics studies of P. acacioi.     

Evaluation of experimental cleanser solution of Ricinus communis: effect on soft denture liner properties

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00438.x Evaluation of experimental cleanser solution of Ricinus communis: effect on soft denture liner properties Objective: This study evaluated colour stability, hardness and roughness of soft denture liners after immersion in various cleansers. Materials and methods: Thirty specimens (14 mm × 4 mm) of Elite Soft Relining (ES) and Mucopren Soft (MS) were randomly immersed in distilled water at 37°C, sodium hypochlorite 1%, and an experimental Ricinus communis solution (RC) for 7, 15 and 183 continuous days. Results: anova (p < 0.05) and Tukey’s test indicated that after T7 (μ =8.79 ± 7.36); T15 (μ = 4.23 ± 2.62) and T183 (μ = 8.78 ± 3.16), MS presented a higher increase in hardness than ES. After T7, MS underwent an increase in roughness (μ = 0.09 ± 0.80); ES underwent a decrease (μ = ?0.08 ± 0.16). RC caused the smallest variation in roughness. After T15, both materials presented an increase in roughness. After T183, ES (μ = ?0.30 ± 0.48) presented a higher roughness variation than MS (μ = ?0.07 ± 0.32). Hypochlorite caused an increase in roughness (μ = 0.02 ± 0.19). Conclusion: After all periods ES presented higher colour alteration than MS; highest colour alteration was caused by hypochlorite. Both materials were more stable after immersion in RC.