Investigations on the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities of terezine E and 14-hydroxyterezine D

Secondary metabolites produced by endophytes are an excellent source of biologically active compounds. The newly isolated natural products terezine E and 14-hydroxyterezine D are endophytic metabolites exhibiting anticancer activity recently identified by our team (https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2018.1489393). In our current study, we evaluated their affinity for binding to the active site of histone deacetylase (PDB ID: 4CBT) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (PDB ID: 4H3X) by molecular docking using AutoDock Vina software after having tested their cytotoxic activities on three cell lines (human ductal breast epithelial tumor cells (T47D)-HCC1937), human hepatocarcinoma cell line (HepG2)-HB8065), and human colorectal carcinoma cells (HCT-116)-TCP1006, purchased from ATCC, USA)). Additionally, their antimicrobial activities were investigated, and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined against P. notatum and S. aureus by the broth microdilution method. Higher cytotoxicity was observed for terezine E against all tested cell lines compared to 14-hydroxyterezine D. Molecular docking results supported the high cytotoxicity of terezine E and showed higher binding affinity with 4CBT with an energy score of 9 kcal/mol. Terezine E showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activities than 14-hydroxyrerezine D: MIC values were 15.45 and 21.73 µg/mL against S. aureus and 8.61 and 11.54 µg/mL against P. notatum, respectively.

Determining the relationship between serum acute phase reactants and cervical premalignant lesions: a cohort study

Abstract BACKGROUND: Acute phase reactants play a role in the progression and prognosis of many malignant and premalignant tumors. This study investigated the diagnostic value of certain reactants as markers for cervical premalignant lesions. OBJECTIVES: Despite advanced screening and vaccination programs, cervical cancer remains a serious health problem worldwide. We aimed to determine the possible relationship between premalignant cervical disease and serum acute phase reactant levels. DESIGN AND SETTING: This study included 124 volunteers who underwent cervical cancer screening. We divided the patients into three groups according to cervical cytology and histopathological findings as follows: no cervical lesion, low-grade neoplasia, or high-grade neoplasia. METHODS: We included women aged 25-65 years with benign smear or colposcopy results, low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. The benign group was based only on cytology findings, whereas the other groups were based on histopathology findings. Demographic data and serum albumin, fibrinogen, ferritin, and procalcitonin levels were evaluated in the three groups. RESULTS: We found significant differences among the three groups in terms of age, albumin level, albumin/fibrinogen ratio, and procalcitonin level. The regression analysis revealed lower serum albumin levels in the low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion groups compared with the benign group. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate the importance of serum inflammatory markers in cervical intraepithelial lesions. Our results indicate that serum albumin level, albumin/fibrinogen ratio, procalcitonin level, and neutrophil values differ among cervical intraepithelial lesions.

Relationship between sleep disturbances, lipid profile and insulin sensitivity in type 1 diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Objective The consequences of sleep deprivation in type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients are poorly understood. Our aim was to determine how sleep disorders influence lipid profile and insulin sensitivity in T1D patients. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional study at a public university hospital. Demographic information and medical histories were obtained during regular scheduled visit of T1D patients to the outpatient clinic. Insulin sensitivity was obtained using the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) formula. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Berlin Questionnaire. Results The adult participants (n = 66, 62% women) had a median age of 28.0 years (interquartile range 21.8-33.0). Six patients (9%) had metabolic syndrome according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Thirty patients (46%) were considered poor sleepers according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The LDL-c and total cholesterol levels of poor sleepers were higher than those of good sleepers (103 v. 81; p = 0.003 and 178.0 v. 159.5 mg/dL; p = 0.009, respectively). Three patients (4%) were at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) according to the Berlin Questionnaire. The eGDR was lower in the group of patients with high probability of having OSAS (6.0 v. 9.1 mg.kg-1.min-1;p = .03). Conclusions Poor subjective quality of sleep and higher risk of OSAS were correlated with a worsened lipid profile and decreased insulin sensitivity, respectively. Therefore, T1D patients with sleep disturbances might have an increased cardiovascular risk in the future.

Hepatitis A Virus Infection Associated with Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

Atypical symptoms, especially immune complex disorders, areuncommonly reported with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. Wereport an 8-year-old child who contracted HAV infectioncomplicated by cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, and responded wellto oral steroids. HAV infection may be considered in the etiologyof cryoglobulinemia in children.

Chiral discrimination of amlodipine from pharmaceutical products using capillary electrophoresis

The present work describes the development of a capillary electrophoresis (CE) method for the chiral discrimination of amlodipine (AML) enantiomers using cyclodextrine (CD) derivatives as chiral selectors. A large number of native and derivatized, neutral and ionized CD derivatives were screened to find the optimal chiral selector; and carboximethyl-β-CD (CM-β-CD) was selected for the enantiomeric discrimination. A factorial analysis study was performed by orthogonal experimental design in which several factors were varied at the same time to optimize the separation method. The optimized method (25 mM phosphate buffer, pH = 9.0, 15 mM CM-β-CD, 15 ºC, + 25 kV, 30 mbar/1 second, detection wavelength 230 nm) was successfully applied for the baseline separation of AML enantiomers within 5 minutes. Successful validation and application of the proposed CE method suggest its routine use in enantioselective control of AML in pharmaceutical preparations.

Utilização de dentes bovinos compossível substituto aos dentes humanos nos testes in vitro: revisão de literatura / Bovine teeth as possible substitute to human teeth in laboratory studies: current findings reviewed

Um dos desafios atuais para a pesquisa odontológica é a dificul-dade de se conseguir dentes humanos hígidos em quantidade suficiente. Além disso, outras dificuldades, como a necessidade de padronização dos substratos, redução do risco de infecção e a questão bioética, têm motivado o desenvolvimento de pesquisas científicas que visam a conseguir um substituto viável para os dentes humanos. A proposta deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão de literatura avaliando uma possível substituição do substrato humano. O esmalte bovino parece ser um substituto adequado ao esmalte humano, mas a dentina deve ser utilizada com cautela, visto que incidências e profundidades aleatórias do corte, em relação aos túbulos dentinários, podem alterar os resultados.

One of the currently challenges for dentistry research is the difficulty to obtain enough amounts of higid human teeth. Moreover, other difficulties as standardization of substrates, reduction of infection risk and bioethics question involving humans have stimulated the develop-ment of scientific research to obtain an available substitute for human teeth. The proposal of this study was to make a literature review and to evaluate a possible substitution for the human substrate. The bovine enamel seems to be an adequate substitute to the human enamel, but the dentine must be used with caution, since random incidences and depths of the slices in relation to the dentin tubules can modify the results.

[Child acute rheumatic fever in Marrakech hospital]

The aim of this study is to specify the characteristics of rheumatic fever in children in the Ibn Zohr Hospital of Marrakech. 450 cases of rheumatic fever were collected from 1995 to 1999 and they represented 6.54% of the whole hospitalizations. The mean age was 9.4 year-old. The socio-economic status was very low in stand 87.8% of cases. A personal history of rheumatic fever was found in 12.9% of cases and a family history in 3%. 89.5% of children had recurrent pharyngitis. Fever was present in 88.8% of children, arthritis in 74.3% and rheumatic heart disease in 52%. Sedimentation rate and serologic test of streptococcal was frequently abnormal. Electrocardiography was abnormal in 12.7% of cases. Echocardiography, performed in only 47 cases, was abnormal in 39 cases. All the children had penicillin prophylaxis, 67.7% were treated by steroids and 31.7% by aspirin. 3 patients died, and 77 children presented persistent heart valves disease. We recommend the application of the National Program for the Prevention of Rheumatic Fever, and the education of the population for the prevention of infectious diseases

Acidentes oculares graves decorrentes do trabalho / Serious ocular injuries from work activities

Para avaliar a ocorrência dos acidentes oculares graves decor rentes do trabalho em nossa regiäo, estudamos os acidentes acompanhados na Seçäo de Prestaçöes Assistenciais e Pecuniárias do Acidente de Trabalho - Setor Médico - Pericial da Agência do INSS de Botucatu. Os acidentes oculares foram responsáveis por 3,0 por cento dos acidentes graves do trabalho. Acometeram o sexo masculino em 86,4 por cento, mais na faixa etária de 20 a 30 anos (28,8 por cento). A maioria ocorreu na lavoura (22,0 por cento), seguindo-se pela construçäo civil (20,3 por cento), indústria metalúrgica (13,6 por cento) e outras. O ferimento perfurante foi o mais freqüente (49,2 por cento) e decorrente geralmente de fragmentos metálicos ou vidro. As infecçöes acometeram 16,9 por cento dos casos. Em 27,8 por cento dos acidentes foi realizada enucleaçäo ou evisceraçäo. A acuidade visual final foi menor que 0,1 em 42,2 por cento. Os autores propöem que estudos sejam realizados para que se conheça a prevalência e a incidência dos traumas oculares decorrentes do trabalho no país, buscando meios de melhor prevení-los.