Chemical composition and biological activity of a new type of Brazilian propolis: red propolis.

Propolis has been used as a medicinal agent to treat infections and promote wound healing for centuries. The aim of the present study was to test the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of a new type of Brazilian propolis, popularly called red propolis, as well as to analyze its chemical composition. The antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus mutans UA159 was evaluated and the chloroform fraction (Chlo-fr) was the most active with lower MIC ranging from 25 to 50 microg/ml. The hexane fraction (H-fr), having the highest concentration of total flavonoids, showed the best sequestrating activity for the free radical DPPH. The ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) showed cytotoxic activity for the HeLa tumor cells with an IC(50) of 7.45 microg/ml. When the EEP was analyzed by GC-MS, seven new compounds were found, among which four were isoflavones. Our results showed that the red propolis has biologically active compounds that had never been reported in other types of Brazilian propolis.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of respiratory isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus aureus in Italy: incidence and trends over the period 1997-1999.

The antibiotic susceptibility of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the respiratory tract was assessed over the period 1997-1999 as part of the Italian Epidemiological Observatory survey sponsored by the Smith-Kline Foundation. A standardised method was used to determine the MICs of 22 antibiotics against isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=870), Escherichia coli (n=684), Enterobacter cloacae (n=342), Enterobacter aerogenes (n=187) and Serratia marcescens (n=135) as well as the MICs of 11 antibiotics against isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (n=1,606). Overall, the susceptibility rate of Enterobacteriaceae isolates was > or = 90% to 5 agents (meropenem, imipenem, amikacin, cefepime and gentamicin); 89-80% to 2 agents (ciprofloxacin and tobramycin); and <80% to 11 agents (cefotaxime, piperacillin-tazobactam, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, cefetamet, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, aztreonam, ticarcillin-clavulanate, tetracycline, piperacillin, cefuroxime, chloramphenicol, ticarcillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate and amoxicillin). During the 3-year monitoring period, antibiotic susceptibility increased in Klebsiella pneumoniae against amoxicillin-clavulanate, in Escherichia coli against third-generation cephalosporins and aztreonam, in Enterobacter aerogenes against amoxicillin and piperacillin-tazobactam and in Serratia marcescens against most of the antibiotics. In contrast, Enterobacter cloacae showed a tendency to develop resistance to cefetamet, amikacin and ciprofloxacin. Of the total number of Staphylococcus aureus strains, 38% were methicillin resistant. Nearly 80% of the methicillin-resistant strains displayed a multiresistance pattern (additional resistance to 2 or more non-beta-lactam antibiotics). Rates of susceptibility of particular species (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) were compared using strains from different geographical areas of Italy (northern, central and southern) and from different nosocomial areas (outpatients, intensive care unit [ICU] inpatients, non-ICU inpatients). Susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae to several antibiotics was lower in southern Italy, whereas the incidence of methicillin-resistant strains was higher in northern and central Italy. The susceptibility of Escherichia coli was similar in all three areas. No significant differences in susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae or Escherichia coli were found between strains from inpatients and outpatients or from inpatients admitted to ICU and non-ICU units. The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was higher in ICU inpatients (52%) than in non-ICU inpatients (38%) and lower in outpatients (19%) than in inpatients.

A new approach for calcitonin determination based on target cell responsiveness.

We report the development and validation of three microbioassays for calcitonin based on calcitonin-induced inhibition of the activity of isolated osteoclasts. Having precisely quantified osteoclast motility, spreading and bone resorptive activity, we have applied stringent analytical procedures to define assay characteristics. We have found that the appropriately transformed responses significantly regress on log dose of the peptides. Furthermore, potency estimates obtained using calcitonins from three species (human, salmon and a synthetic analogue of eel calcitonin) have been found to be consistent with those obtained using conventional calcitonin bioassays. In addition, the assays are remarkably sensitive (detection limit 10(-15) M), highly specific and precise. We have determined plasma levels of bioactive calcitonin on samples from patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma; these are several-fold lower than those obtained using our routine calcitonin radioimmunoassay. Our study thus, forms the basis of an entirely new approach for the determination of 'biologically active' calcitonin, and we envisage that such target cell-specific assays could become useful microanalytical methods.

[Tienilic acid in the treatment of arterial hypertension and congestive cardiac insufficiency]. / L'acido tienilico nel trattamento dell'ipertensione arteriosa e dello scompenso cardiaco congestizio.

Tienilic acid (TA) is a common new diuretic agent with a potent uricosuric action. In a double-blind cross-over study its antihypertensive effect was compared to that of hydrochlorothiazide (HCT). 20 patients with essential hypertension were studied: after I weeks of placebo wash-out 10 patients received TA (dose range 250-750 mg/die) and 10 HCT (dose range 50-150 mg/die), for 5 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly and equally reduced (p < 0.001) after the first week of treatment in both groups. While serum uric acid concentration increased after HCT, it was significantly reduced (p < 0.001) after TA treatment. Serum potassium was slightly reduced with both treatments. Serum tryglicerides, unchanged after HCT, showed a slight tendency to reduction on TA treatment. Ten patients with congestive heart failure, on full digitalis treatment, were given TA (dose range 250-1000 mg/die): in each patient a prompt diuretic effect was observed, associated to a significant reduction of body weight and to a marked improvement of the clinical signs of heart failure. Therefore, TA is an effective diuretic agent which may be conveniently used in the treatment of arterial hypertension and congestive heart failure, as it induces a diuretic effect comparable to that obtained with HCT, reducing at the same time, serum uric acid levels.

Leucocyte migration inhibition in liver disease.

Clinical and histological features provide evidence that immunological reactions of the cell-mediated type are abnormal in some forms of chronic liver disease. By using the leucocyte migration test of Søborg and Bendixen (1967), a correlate of cellular hypersensitivity in vitro, the authors studied the production of the migration inhibitory factor by lymphocytes exposed to a fetal liver homogenate in 88 patients with acute and chronic liver disease. Abnormality of leucocyte migration was found in aggressive chronic hepatitis (inhibition in 67% of patients), cryptogenic cirrhosis (inhibition in 43%, stimulation in 13% of patients), and primary biliary cirrhosis (stimulation in two, inhibition in two out of six patients). The results are compatible with the hypothesis that cellular immune response to liver antigens is important in the pathogenesis of such diseases.