Air pollution and female fertility: a systematic review of literature.

Air pollution is a cause of concern for human health. For instance, it is associated with an increased risk for cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders. In vitro and in vivo studies suggested that air pollutants could act as endocrine disruptors, promote oxidative stress and exert genotoxic effect. Whether air pollution affects female infertility is under debate. The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of studies that evaluated the impact of air pollution on female infertility. We systematically searched the MEDLINE (PubMed) and SCOPUS databases to identify all relevant studies published before October 2017. No time or language restrictions were adopted, and queries were limited to human studies. We also hand-searched the reference lists of relevant studies to ensure we did not miss pertinent studies. The risk of bias and quality assessment of the studies identified were performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Primary outcomes were conception rate after spontaneous intercourse and live birth rate after in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. Secondary outcomes were first trimester miscarriage, stillbirths, infertility, number of oocytes and embryo retrieved. Eleven articles were included in the analysis. We found that in the IVF population, nitrogen dioxide and ozone were associated with a reduced live birth rate while particulate matter of 10 mm was associated with increased miscarriage. Furthermore, in the general population, particulate matter of 2.5 mm and between 2.5 and 10 mm were associated with reduced fecundability, whereas sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide might promote miscarriage and stillbirths. The main limitation of our findigns resides in the fact that the desegn of studies included are observational and retrospective. Furthermore, there was a wide heterogenity among studies. Although larger trials are required before drawing definitive conclusions, it seems that air pollution could represent a matter of concern for female infertility.

Antioxidant bibenzyl derivatives from Notholaena nivea Desv.

Four new bibenzyl derivatives were isolated, together with other known bibenzyls, by bioassay-guided fractionation of a CHCl3-MeOH extract of Notholaena nivea Desv. (Pteridaceae) aerial parts. The structures were elucidated by NMR, ESIMS and other spectral analyses. Their antioxidative effects towards superoxide, lipidic peroxidation and the 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethilbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical were assayed. Results showed that the compound 3,12-dihydroxy-5-methoxybibenzyl (6) is the most active compound in the ABTS free-radical scavenging test, while in the coupled oxidation of ß-carotene and linoleic acid assay the compound 5,12-dihydroxy-3-methoxydibenzyl-6-carboxylic acid (1) exerted the highest activity after 1h. A superoxide anion enzymatic test was also carried out and the results were confirmed by an inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity assay. The putative protective role played by compounds 1 and 6 on the injurious effects of reactive oxygen metabolites on the intestinal epithelium, using a Caco-2 human cell line, was investigated. H2O2-induced alterations were prevented by preincubating the cells with compounds 1 and 6.

A new series of 1,3-dihidro-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-5,7-dione derivatives: synthesis and interaction with Abeta(25-35) amyloid peptide.

Deposition of senile plaques composed of fibrillar aggregates of Abeta-amyloid peptide is a characteristic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. A widely employed approach in the study of anti-Alzheimer agents involves the identification of substances able to prevent amyloid aggregation, or to disaggregate the amyloid fibrils through a direct structural interaction with the soluble or aggregated forms of the peptide. Here, we report the synthesis of a set of 1,3-dihydro-3,6-disubstituted-imidazo[1,5-c]thiazole-5,7-dione derivatives supporting different alkyl, aryl and alkylamine side chains. The ability of these compounds to interact with the Abeta(25-35) peptide was evaluated using circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance and thioflavin fluorescence spectroscopy. A molecular model for Abeta(25-35)-ligand interactions was calculated by molecular docking procedures. Our data show that the ability of the synthesized compounds to modify the structural behaviour of Abeta(25-35) varies as a function of the overall structural features of the ligands rather contributions from specific individual substituents.

Antiproliferative oleanane saponins from Meryta denhamii.

Eight new oleanane saponins (1- 8) together with four know saponins (9-12) were isolated from the aerial parts of Meryta denhamii. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments including 1D TOCSY, DQF-COSY, ROESY, HSQC, and HMBC spectroscopy, as well as ESIMS analysis. The antiproliferative activity of all compounds was evaluated using three murine and human cancer cell lines: J774.A1, HEK-293, and WEHI-164.

Secondary metabolites from the aerial parts of Salvia palaestina Bentham.

Three sesterterpenes (1-3), one triterpene (4) and five diterpenes (5-9) were isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia palaestina Bentham (Lamiaceae), together with two sesquiterpenes, 10 known diterpenes, three triterpenes, and rosmarinic acid. Their structural elucidation was accomplished by extensive spectroscopic methods including 1D ((1)H, (13)C, (13)C DEPT, TOCSY, NOESY) and 2D NMR experiments (DQF-COSY, HSQC, HMBC, ROESY) as well as ESIMS analysis and chemical analysis.

Impact of idiopathic epilepsy on mothers and fathers: strain, burden of care, worries and perception of vulnerability.

The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of idiopathic epilepsy on mothers and fathers in terms of strain, burden of care, worries and perception of vulnerability. Data were collected and analyzed shortly after the diagnosis (T0) and 12 months later (T1). The results indicated that at T0 parents of children with epilepsy showed higher levels of worries and perception of vulnerability than controls; mothers sustained a greater burden of care and exhibited higher levels of strain than fathers. At T1, strain and perception of vulnerability decreased both for mothers and fathers, while burden of care and worries remained stable. At T0 and T1, strain was associated with parents' perception of vulnerability and anxiety for their children's future.

Antiproliferative triterpene saponins from Entada africana.

Nine new ester saponins (1-9) were isolated from the roots of Entada africana. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments including 1D and 2D TOCSY, DQF-COSY, HSQC, and HMBC spectroscopy, as well as ESIMS analysis, and chemical methods. The aglycon moieties were found to be echinocystic acid for compounds 1, 2, 4-6, 8, and 9 and acacic acid for 3 and 7. All isolated compounds were tested for their antiproliferative activity against the J774.A1, HEK-293, and WEHI-164 cell lines. Moderate to high cytotoxic potency was found for almost all compounds tested.

Pregnane glycosides from Leptadenia pyrotechnica.

The whole plant of Leptadenia pyrotechnica afforded 18 new pregnane glycosides (1-18) with sarcostin, 11-hydroxysarcostin, and deacetylmetaplexigenin as the aglycon moieties and acetyl, benzoyl, cinnamoyl, p-coumaroyl, and nicotinoyl ester moieties linked at C-12 and/or C-20 of the aglycon and hexopyranose, 6-deoxy-3-O-methylhexopyranose, and 2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methylhexopyranose sugars linked at C-3 of their aglycon. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data interpretation and from chemical evidence. The antiproliferative activity of all compounds was evaluated using three continuous murine and human culture cell lines, J774.A1, HEK-293, and WEHI-164. Compounds having deacethylmetaplexigenin as aglycon and a cinnamoyl ester moiety linked at C-12 were the most active constituents.

Is everybody always my friend? Perception of approachability in Williams syndrome.

Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) are well known for their friendly behaviour and tendency to approach strangers indiscriminately as if everybody were their friend. This tendency to approach strangers is mirrored in their ratings of unfamiliar face stimuli. Here we examined their perception of unfamiliar expressive faces and found that individuals with WS do not always see faces as being highly approachable. Happy faces were rated as more approachable by individuals with WS than by controls. In contrast, the other less approachable face stimuli were rated lower on approachability by individuals with WS than by controls. Thus, it appears that although individuals with WS will discriminate people in terms of approachability, they have difficulty inhibiting their strong compulsion towards social interaction. The form of this strong pro-social compulsion is discussed both in terms of friendliness and in terms of the heightened salience of social stimuli (social stimulus attraction).

New compounds from an extract of Vernonia colorata leaves with anti-inflammatory activity.

Bioassay-directed fractionation of an anti-inflammatory CHCl(3)-MeOH (9:1) extract of leaves of Vernonia colorata, using a carrageenan-induced rat paw model, led to the isolation of six new compounds (1-6). These were assigned as two new androst-8-en glycosides, 3-O-[beta-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-2)-[beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)]-beta-d-glucopyranoside]-5alpha,14alpha-androst-8-ene (1) and 3-O-[beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-d-glucopyranoside]-5alpha,14alpha-androst-8-ene (2), two new stigmastane-type glycosides, 3beta,21,24-trihydroxy-21,23;22,28;26,28-triepoxy-5alpha-stigmasta-8(9),14(15)-dien-3-O-beta-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-d-glucopyranoside (3) and 3beta,21,24-trihydroxy-21,23;22,28;26,28-triepoxy-5alpha-stigmasta-8(9),14(15)-dien-3-O-beta-d-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-d-(6-acetyl)glucopyranoside (4), and two new stigmastane-type steroids, 3beta,25,29-trihydroxy-5alpha-stigmasta-8(9),14(15),24Z(28)-triene (5) and 3beta,23,25-trihydroxy-24,28-epoxy-5alpha-stigmasta-8(9),14(15)-diene (6). The structures of 1-6 were elucidated by spectral and chemical studies. Compounds 1-6 were tested for the anti-inflammatory activity, but all were inactive or weakly inactive as anti-inflammatory agents.

Cytotoxic saponins from Schefflera fagueti.

Six new lupane (1 - 4) and oleanane saponins (5 and 6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Schefflera fagueti Baill. (Araliaceae). Their structures were determined by 2D-NMR spectroscopy (DQF-COSY, 1D-TOCSY, 2D-HOHAHA, 1D-ROESY, HSQC, HMBC). The antiproliferative activity of compounds 1 - 6 and of their prosapogenins (1a - 6a) was evaluated using three continuous murine and human culture cell lines J774, HEK-293, WEHI-164. Oleanane saponins 5 and 6 were the most active, showing significant inhibitory effects on all cell lines, while their prosapogenins 5a and 6a demonstrated minor activity.

Antioxidant activity of thioureidic derivatives I.

Recent developments in biomedical science have shown that free radicals are involved in many diseases. They attack the unsaturated fatty acids in the biomembrane resulting in membrane lipid peroxidation, which is strongly connected to aging, carcinogenesis and atherosclerosis. Free radicals also attack DNA and cause mutation leading to cancer. In addition lipid peroxidation is an important factor of deterioration in the processing and storage of food. Therefore, it is important to search for new effective radical scavengers (Sci. Rev. 2 (1997) 152; J. Nat. Prod. Rev. 63 (2000) 1035). In this manuscript we describe the antioxidant activity of new thioureidic compounds.

Antioxidant chalcone glycosides and flavanones from Maclura (Chlorophora) tinctoria.

Four chalcone glycosides (1-4), including three new natural products, and three flavanones (5-7) were isolated from the methanol extract of stem bark of Maclura tinctoria. The new compounds have been characterized as 4'-O-beta-D-(2' '-p-coumaroyl)glucopyranosyl-4,2',3'-trihydroxychalcone (1), 4'-O-beta-D-(2' '-p-coumaroyl-6' '-acetyl)glucopyranosyl-4,2',3'-trihydroxychalcone (2), and 3'-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-4,2'-dihydroxychalcone (3); the known derivatives were elucidated as 4'-O-beta-D-(2' '-acetyl-6' '-cinnamoyl)glucopyranosyl-4,2',3'-trihydroxychalcone (4), eriodictyol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), naringenin (6), and naringenin 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7). Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR and ESIMS. The antioxidant activity of all the isolated compounds was determined by measuring free-radical-scavenging effects using two different assays, namely, the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay and the coupled oxidation of beta-carotene and linoleic acid (autoxidation assay). The results showed that compound 3 was the most active in both antioxidant assays.

Antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activity of constituents of the leaves of Tachigalia paniculata.

Two new myricetin glycosides, myricetin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and myricetin 7-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), together with the known compounds quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), quercetin 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (5), methyl gallate (6), isovanillin (7), 4-hydroxymethylbenzoate (8), 3,4-dihydroxymethylbenzoate (9), and caffeoyl aldehyde (10) were isolated from the leaves of Tachigalia paniculata. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. Their antioxidant activity was determined by measuring free-radical scavenging effects using three different assays, namely, the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) assay, the coupled oxidation of beta-carotene and linoleic acid (autoxidation assay), and the inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity. Compounds 1, 2, and 6 showed activity in the TEAC test, compounds 5-7 and 10 were moderately active in the autoxidation assay, while compounds 1 and 2 were the most potent of the isolates in the xanthine oxidase test.