Synthesis and Bioactivity of a Cyclopolypeptide from Caribbean Marine Sponge.

Synthesis of a natural proline-rich cyclopolypeptide - rolloamide A was carried out by coupling of tri- and tetrapeptide units Boc-Phe-Pro-Val-OMe and Boc-Pro-Leu-Pro-Ile-OMe after proper deprotection at carboxyl and amino terminals using carbodiimide chemistry in alkaline environment followed by cyclization of linear heptapeptide segment in the presence of base. The structure of synthesized peptide was confirmed by spectral techniques including FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, MS analyses. Newly synthesized peptide was subjected to biological screening against pathogenic microbes and earthworms. Cyclopeptide 8 possessed promising activity against pathogenic fungi Candida albicans (ZOI: 24 mm, MIC: 6 µg/mL) and Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ZOI: 27 mm, MIC: 6 µg/mL) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ZOI: 23 mm, MIC: 12.5 µg/mL), in comparison to reference drugs - griseofulvin (ZOI: 20 mm, MIC: 6 µg/mL) and ciprofloxacin (ZOI: 25 mm, MIC: 6 µg/mL/ZOI: 20 mm, MIC: 12.5 µg/mL). Also, newly synthesized heptacyclopeptide exhibited potent anthelmintic activity against earthworms Megascoplex konkanensis, Pontoscotex corethruses, and Eudrilus species (MPT/MDT ratio - 8.22-16.02/10.06-17.59 min), in comparison to standard drugs - mebendazole (MPT/MDT ratio - 10.52-18.02/12.57-19.49 min) and piperazine citrate (MPT/MDT ratio - 12.38-19.17/13.44-22.17 min).

The long-term effect of sparkling flavored water on human tooth enamel determined by gravimetric analysis: a preliminary evaluation / O efeito a longo prazo da água aromatizada com gás no esmalte dental humano determinado por análise gravimétrica: uma avaliação preliminar

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito in vitro de águas aromatizadas no esmalte dental humano utilizando um método gravimétrico. Material e Métodos: As superfícies linguais dos molares inferiores foram utilizadas para obter amostras de esmalte. O esmalte (n = 3) foi lavado, seco, e posteriormente imerso em 6 diferentes águas aromatizadas com gás disponíveis na região, e avaliado periodicamente por até 9 dias através de análise gravimétrica. Além disso, as medições de pH das águas aromatizadas foram registradas. Resultados: Todas as águas aromatizadas testadas apresentaram valores de pH abaixo do pH crítico. Os testes t pareados demonstraram reduções significativas na massa média do grupo para todas as amostras de esmalte desde o primeiro dia após a imersão em água com sabor, em comparação com as medições de referência. Reduções adicionais na massa média continuaram até o nono dia de imersão. Conclusão: As águas aromatizadas são potencialmente erosivas para as amostras de esmalte humano, sendo o efeito erosivo cumulativo ao longo do tempo. (AU)

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro effect of flavored waters on human tooth enamel using a gravimetric method. Lingual surfaces of lower molars were used to obtain enamel specimens. Material and Methods: Enamel (n=3) was washed and dried, immersed in 6 flavors of locally available flavored sparkling water and assessed using gravimetric analysis, periodically for up to 9 days. Additionally, pH measurements of the flavored waters were recorded. Results: All the tested flavored waters showed pH values below that of critical pH. Paired t-tests demonstrated significant reductions in the mean group mass for all enamel specimens from as early as day 1 after immersion in flavored water, compared to baseline measurements. Further reductions in mean mass continued up to day 9 of immersion. Conclusion: Flavored waters are potentially erosive to human enamel specimens with the erosive effect being cumulative over time. (AU)

Identification of calcium, sodium, magnesium and chloride ion levels in hypertensive and non-hypertensive trinidadians.

Hypertension is a progressive cardiovascular disease with association to risk factors. These risk factors in conjunction with essential elements has become identifiable with the development of the progressive disease. The key purpose of this investigation was to identify the levels of the essential elements, Sodium (Na+), Magnesium (Mg2+), Chloride (Cl-) and Calcium (Ca2+) in both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients in a Trinidadian population. To achieve this objective a case-control investigation was conducted in which both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients were assessed. Patients were issued a questionnaire with a series of open-ended questions related to the study. Blood was then drawn from each patient once consent was obtained and sent to the lab to be assayed for the elements. Fifty hypertensive (50) patients were compared with 50 non-hypertensive patients. The average levels obtained for Na+, Cl-, Ca2+ and Mg2+ were 162.08±4.27 mmol/dL (P=0.53), 120.1±58.31 mmol/dL (P=0.51), 2.78±0.86 mmol/dL (P=0.47) and 0.52±0.31 mmol/dL (P<0.001) respectively for the hypertensive patients. The results in the present study revealed higher levels of Na+, Ca2+ and Cl- and lower levels of Mg2+ in the hypertensive patients. The hypertensive patients were also identifiable with having high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. Sixty-two (62%) of the hypertensive patients lived with the condition for more than 10 years. The results obtained for the Trinidadian population revealed in conclusion that hypertensive patients have higher levels of Na+, Ca2+ and Cl- and lower levels of Mg2+. These results are similar to the global results with small differences in their average level of each ion identified.

Application of a novel sex independent anthropometric index, termed angle index, in relation to type 2 diabetes: a Trinidadian case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a novel sex independent anthropometric index, termed as angle index, related to type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Case-control. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 121 participants and were divided into two groups. One group had no form of diabetes and served as controls (n=50). The other group had the condition of type 2 diabetes (n=71). 31% (n=37) of the subjects were male and 69% (n=84) were female. 62% (n=75) of the subjects were of East Indian ethnicity, 28% (n=34) were of African ethnicity and 10% (n=12) were of mixed ethnicity. SETTING: Participants of the study were from the island of Trinidad, located in the Caribbean. Patients in the study were selected at random from hospital records. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: It was hypothesised that the mean angle index of patients with type 2 diabetes would be higher than the mean angle index of patients without type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Patients with type 2 diabetes had a significantly higher angle index value as compared with controls (p<0.001). Angle index was the superior sex independent anthropometric index in relation to type 2 diabetes (area under the curve=0.72; p<0.001) as compared with other sex independent variables. Angle index correlated with glycated haemoglobin (rs=0.28, p=0.003) and fasting blood glucose (rs=0.31, p=0.001) levels. Patients with type 2 diabetes were four times more likely to have an angle index greater than 184° (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.8 to 9.9) as compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Angle index was a superior sex independent index for discriminating between patients with and without type 2 diabetes, as compared with waist circumference, abdominal volume index, conicity index, blood pressure readings, triglyceride levels and very low-density lipoprotein levels.

Evaluation of vitamin D relationship with type 2 diabetes and systolic blood pressure.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether relationships exist among vitamin D, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and blood pressure in Trinidadian subjects with T2DM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a case-controlled study to determine if vitamin D levels were lower in patients with T2DM. After data analysis, an exploratory hypothesis of vitamin D relationship to systolic blood pressure (SBP) was developed. Plasma calcifediol (25(OH)D) concentrations were used as a measurement for vitamin D levels and were determined by ELISA. Cholesterol levels were measured by an automated dry chemistry analyzer and blood pressure was measured using an automatic blood pressure monitor. RESULTS: There was no significant difference (p=0.139, n=76) in 25(OH)D levels between patients with T2DM and controls. Subjects with SBP above 130 mm Hg were 8 times more likely to have a 25(OH)D plasma concentration above 25 ng/mL (OR 7.9 (2.2 to 28.7)), and were 5 times (OR 4.7 (1.7 to 15.1)) more likely to have a 25(OH)D plasma concentration above 30 ng/mL (OR 7.5 (2.3-24.2)). Vitamin D levels moderately and positively correlated with SBP (rs=0.38, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the 25(OH)D levels between patients with T2DM and controls (p=0.139). Patients with SBP under 130 mm Hg were 8 times more likely to have a vitamin D level above 25 ng/mL (OR 7.9 (2.2 to 28.7)). Further investigations are required to examine the relationship between vitamin D and SBP.