Co-infected HIV/hepatitis patients compared with chronic liver patients and healthy individuals: respiratory assessment through surface electromyography and spirometry.

INTRODUCTION: Co-infected HIV and hepatitis subjects are candidates for a liver transplantation because of progressive liver disease. Chronic liver disease, co-infected or not, requires assessment of respiratory function before liver transplantation. The respiratory evaluation of these 2 groups compared with healthy individuals can define deficits, and this can impair a full recovery after transplant surgery. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to compare the respiratory profile in co-infected patients with chronic liver disease who are candidates for liver transplantation with that of healthy subjects. METHODS: Through respiratory evaluation of flows and lung volumes (spirometry), muscle activity (surface electromyography), and maximum pressure (manovacuometer), 250 people were distributed into 3 groups: 14 patients with HIV and liver disease, 65 healthy subjects, and 171 patients with chronic liver disease. The mean age (years) was respectively 47.5 ± 6.2, 48.3 ± 14.1, and 52.9 ± 8.5. The average body mass index (kg/m(2)) of the groups was 24.6 ± 4.5, 26.0 ± 3.2, and 28.5 ± 5.3, respectively. RESULTS: There was a statistical difference among the groups in the root means square (RMS) rectus abdominis (µV) (P = .0016), RMS diaphragm (µV) (P = .0001), maximal inspiratory pressure (cmH2O) (P = .001), forced exhaled volume at the end of first second (%) (P = .002), and maximal mid expiratory flow 25% to 75% (%) (P = .0001) for the Kruskal-Wallis test. The multivariate analysis among the groups showed that the RMS diaphragm had a tendency to discriminate the co-infected subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The co-infected HIV group showed a muscle deficit of diaphragm and rectus abdominis activity, and the liver disease group showed lower indexes in volumes and respiratory flows.

Biflavonoids inhibit the production of aflatoxin by Aspergillus flavus

The biflavonoids 6,6"-bigenkwanin, amenthoflavone, 7,7"-dimethoxyagastisflavone and tetradimethoxybigenkwanin isolated from Ouratea species were tested for inhibitory activity on Aspergillus flavus cultures. Suspensions of Aspergillus flavus spores were inoculated into 50 ml of YES medium at different biflavonoid concentrations: 5 and 10 æg/ml for 6,6"-bigenkwanin, amenthoflavone and 7,7"-dimethoxyagastisflavone, and 5, 10, 15 and 20 æg/ml for tetradimethoxybigenkwanin. The four biflavonoids showed inhibitory activity on aflatoxin B1 and B2 production (P<0.001), but did not inhibit fungal growth at the concentration tested (P>0.05). These results show that biflavonoids can be used for the development of agents to control aflatoxin production

Biflavonoids inhibit the production of aflatoxin by Aspergillus flavus.

The biflavonoids 6,6"-bigenkwanin, amenthoflavone, 7,7"-dimethoxyagastisflavone and tetradimethoxybigenkwanin isolated from Ouratea species were tested for inhibitory activity on Aspergillus flavus cultures. Suspensions of Aspergillus flavus spores were inoculated into 50 ml of YES medium at different biflavonoid concentrations: 5 and 10 microg/ml for 6,6"-bigenkwanin, amenthoflavone and 7,7"-dimethoxyagastisflavone, and 5, 10, 15 and 20 microg/ml for tetradimethoxybigenkwanin. The four biflavonoids showed inhibitory activity on aflatoxin B1 and B2 production (P<0.001), but did not inhibit fungal growth at the concentration tested (P>0.05). These results show that biflavonoids can be used for the development of agents to control aflatoxin production.

Biflavonoids from Ouratea multiflora.

A new flavone dimer, 3-hydroxy-4',5,7-trimethoxyflavone-(6-->8")-3"-hydroxy-3"',4"', 5",7"-tetramethoxyflavone, together with amenthoflavone, have been isolated from the leaves of Ouratea multiflora. Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods, including two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy.

Inhibition of lens aldose reductase by biflavones from Ouratea spectabilis.

Two biflavonoids were isolated from the EtOH extract from leaves of Ouratea spectabilis. Their structures were established to be the novel 6,6"-bigenkwanin and 7,7"-dimethoxyagathisflavone on the basis of spectroscopic data. The inhibition of bovine lens aldose reductase exerted by these biflavones has been studied.

[Latentiation of naphthylazoderivatives by polymerarization]. / Latencia c2ao de naftilazoderivados esquis to s so nuicidas pela polimeriza Cão

Five naphthylazoderivatives (of sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine, sulfathiazole, sulfamethoxazole, and sulfamonomethoxine) -- the first four displaying schistosomicidal activity -- were latentiated, in the form of polyamides of acrylic and methacrylic acids, by reacting those compounds with these polymers. In biological tests in mice experimentally infected by Schistosoma mansoni, the new nine compounds were found to be inactive. However, the original method of latentiation described in this paper has possibilities of wide application, owing to its favourable features: versatility of the reactive group of the polymer, lability of the bond (easily hydrolyzable) formed between drug and polymer, greater viability of reaction between the polyanhydride and the drug, and solubility in water of the polymers thus formed.