Ethnomedicinal studies in the Amazon community and in the Northeast region of Brazil highlight the use of Libidibia ferrea fruits for the treatment of gastric problems. However, there are no data in ...the literature of this pharmacological activity. Thus, the aim of this paper is to provide a scientific basis for the use of the dry extract of L. ferrea pods (DELfp) for the treatment of peptic ulcers. Phytochemical characterization was performed by HPLC/MS. In vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, phosphomolybdenum, and superoxide radical scavenging activity. The gastroprotective activity, the ability to stimulate mucus production, the antisecretory activity, and the influence of -SH and NO compounds on the antiulcerogenic activity of DELfp were evaluated. The healing activity was determined by the acetic acid-induced chronic ulcer model. Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity was investigated. HPLC/MS results identified the presence of phenolic compounds, gallic acid and ellagic acid, in DELfp. The extract showed antioxidant activity in vitro. In ulcers induced by absolute ethanol and acidified ethanol, the ED50 values of DELfp were 113 and 185.7 mg/kg, respectively. DELfp (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) inhibited indomethacin-induced lesions by 66.7, 69.6, and 65.8%, respectively. DELfp (200 mg/kg) reduced gastric secretion and H+ concentration in the gastric contents and showed to be independent of nitric oxide (NO) and dependent on sulfhydryl (-SH) compounds in the protection of the gastric mucosa. In the chronic ulcer model, DELfp reduced the area of the gastric lesion. DELfp also showed anti-H. pylori activity. In conclusion, DELfp showed antioxidant, gastroprotective, healing, and antiulcerogenic activities. The mechanism of these actions seems to be mediated by different pathways and involves the reduction of gastric secretion and H+ concentration, dependence on sulfhydryl compounds, and anti-H. pylori activity. All these actions support the medicinal use of this species in the management of peptic ulcers.
The present study evaluated the anticancer potential of 11 plants used in Bangladeshi folk medicine. The extracts were tested for cytotoxicity using the brine shrimp lethality assay, sea urchin eggs ...assay, hemolysis assay and MTT assay using tumor cell lines. The extract of
Oroxylum indicum showed the highest toxicity on all tumor cell lines tested, with an IC
50 of 19.6
μg/ml for CEM, 14.2
μg/ml for HL-60, 17.2
μg/ml for B-16 and 32.5
μg/ml for HCT-8. On the sea urchin eggs, it inhibited the progression of cell cycle since the frist cleavage (IC
50
=
13.5
μg/ml). The extract of
Aegle marmelos exhibited toxicity on all used assays, but in a lower potency than
Oroxylum indicum. In conclusion, among all tested extracts, only the extracts of
Oroxylum indicum,
Moringa oleifera and
Aegles marmelos could be considered as potential sources of anticancer compounds. Further studies are necessary for chemical characterization of the active principles and more extensive biological evaluations.
Objectives were to investigate progesterone concentrations and fertility comparing 2 different intervals from PGF2α treatment and induced ovulation in an estrogen-based ovulation synchronization ...protocol for timed artificial insemination (TAI) or timed embryo transfer (TET) in lactating dairy cows. A total of 1,058 lactating Holstein cows primiparous (n=371) and multiparous (n=687), yielding 34.1±0.33 kg of milk/d at various days in milk were randomly assigned to receive treatment with PGF2α on either d 7 or 8 of the following protocol: d 0: 2mg of estradiol benzoate + controlled internal drug release device; d 8: controlled internal drug release device removal + 1.0mg of estradiol cypionate; d 10: TAI or d 17: TET. Only cows with a corpus luteum at d 17 received an embryo and all cows received GnRH at TET. Pregnancy diagnoses were performed by detection (transrectal ultrasonography) of an embryo on d 28 or a fetus on d 60. Fertility pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI) or pregnancy per embryo transfer (P/ET) was affected by breeding technique (AI vs. ET) and time of PGF2α treatment (d 7 vs. 8) at the 28-d pregnancy diagnosis for TAI 32.9% (238) vs. 20.6% (168) and TET cows 47% (243) vs. 40.7% (244) and at the 60-d pregnancy diagnosis for TAI 30% (238) vs. 19.2% (168) and TET cows 37.9% (243) vs. 33.5% (244). The progesterone (P4) concentration at d 10 altered fertility in TAI cows, with higher P/AI in cows with P4 concentration <0.1 ng/mL compared with cows with P4 concentration ≥0.1 ng/mL, and in ET cows, with higher P/ET in cows with P4 concentration <0.22 ng/mL compared with cows with P4 concentration ≥0.22 ng/mL. Prostaglandin F2α treatment at d 7 increased the percentage of cows with P4 <0.1 ng/mL on d 10 39.4 (85) vs. 23.2 (54). Reducing the period between PGF2α and TAI from 72 to 48h in dairy cows resulted in a clear reduction in fertility in cows bred by TAI and a subtle negative effect in cows that received TET. The earlier PGF2α treatment benefits are most likely mediated through gamete transport, fertilization, or early embryo development and a more subtle effect of earlier PGF2α treatment that may be mediated through changes in the uterine or hormonal environment that manifests itself after ET on d 7.
Occurrence of hyperglycemia upon infection is associated with worse clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients. However, it is still unknown whether SARS-CoV-2 directly triggers hyperglycemia. Herein, we ...interrogated whether and how SARS-CoV-2 causes hyperglycemia by infecting hepatocytes and increasing glucose production. We performed a retrospective cohort study including patients that were admitted at a hospital with suspicion of COVID-19. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from the chart records and daily blood glucose values were analyzed to test the hypothesis on whether COVID-19 was independently associated with hyperglycemia. Blood glucose was collected from a subgroup of nondiabetic patients to assess pancreatic hormones.
liver biopsies were collected to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and its transporters in hepatocytes. In human hepatocytes, we studied the mechanistic bases of SARS-CoV-2 entrance and its gluconeogenic effect. SARS-CoV-2 infection was independently associated with hyperglycemia, regardless of diabetic history and beta cell function. We detected replicating viruses in human hepatocytes from
liver biopsies and in primary hepatocytes. We found that SARS-CoV-2 variants infected human hepatocytes in vitro with different susceptibility. SARS-CoV-2 infection in hepatocytes yields the release of new infectious viral particles, though not causing cell damage. We showed that infected hepatocytes increase glucose production and this is associated with induction of PEPCK activity. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 entry in hepatocytes occurs partially through ACE2- and GRP78-dependent mechanisms. SARS-CoV-2 infects and replicates in hepatocytes and exerts a PEPCK-dependent gluconeogenic effect in these cells that potentially is a key cause of hyperglycemia in infected patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate whether the addition of colchicine to standard treatment for COVID-19 results in better outcomes.DesignWe present the results of a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled ...clinical trial of colchicine for the treatment of moderate to severe COVID-19, with 75 patients allocated 1:1 from 11 April to 30 August 2020. Colchicine regimen was 0.5 mg thrice daily for 5 days, then 0.5 mg twice daily for 5 days. The primary endpoints were the need for supplemental oxygen, time of hospitalisation, need for admission and length of stay in intensive care unit and death rate.ResultsSeventy-two patients (36 for placebo and 36 for colchicine) completed the study. Median (and IQR) time of need for supplemental oxygen was 4.0 (2.0–6.0) days for the colchicine group and 6.5 (4.0–9.0) days for the placebo group (p<0.001). Median (IQR) time of hospitalisation was 7.0 (5.0–9.0) days for the colchicine group and 9.0 (7.0–12.0) days for the placebo group (p=0.003). At day 2, 67% versus 86% of patients maintained the need for supplemental oxygen, while at day 7, the values were 9% versus 42%, in the colchicine and the placebo groups, respectively (log rank; p=0.001). Two patients died, both in placebo group. Diarrhoea was more frequent in the colchicine group (p=0.26).ConclusionColchicine reduced the length of both, supplemental oxygen therapy and hospitalisation. The drug was safe and well tolerated. Once death was an uncommon event, it is not possible to ensure that colchicine reduced mortality of COVID-19.Trial registration numberRBR-8jyhxh.
The formation of the solar system Pfalzner, S; Davies, M B; Gounelle, M ...
Physica scripta,
06/2015, Volume:
90, Issue:
6
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The solar system started to form about 4.56 Gyr ago and despite the long intervening time span, there still exist several clues about its formation. The three major sources for this information are ...meteorites, the present solar system structure and the planet-forming systems around young stars. In this introduction we give an overview of the current understanding of the solar system formation from all these different research fields. This includes the question of the lifetime of the solar protoplanetary disc, the different stages of planet formation, their duration, and their relative importance. We consider whether meteorite evidence and observations of protoplanetary discs point in the same direction. This will tell us whether our solar system had a typical formation history or an exceptional one. There are also many indications that the solar system formed as part of a star cluster. Here we examine the types of cluster the Sun could have formed in, especially whether its stellar density was at any stage high enough to influence the properties of today's solar system. The likelihood of identifying siblings of the Sun is discussed. Finally, the possible dynamical evolution of the solar system since its formation and its future are considered.
► An enzymatic biodiesel production from high-acidity waste feedstocks is demonstrated. ► Said production is carried out in a single pass and with no addition of co-solvents. ► Said production ...involves simultaneous esterification and transesterification reactions. ► An empirical equation was derived to determine the kinetics of said production. ► Using said equation one can predict the rate of FAEE production from other feedstocks.
This work aims to demonstrate the enzymatic production of fatty acid ethyl ester biodiesel from highly acidic feedstock in a single-step reaction, without co-solvents and avoiding the inhibition of the enzyme by ethanol and glycerol. Additionally, an empirical equation is proposed to predict the kinetics of the production reaction as a function of the used feedstock and catalyst concentration. Biodiesel production from highly acidic feedstock perform via simultaneous esterification of free fatty acids and transesterification of triacylglycerols. Enzymatic catalysis is one of the most promising alternative technologies for the biodiesel production. Increasing of the enzymatic bioactivity is crucial for the success of such process in industrial scale. Currently, stepwise addition of the alcohol or the use of co-solvents have been proposed to avoid enzyme inhibition, such strategies add downstream processes to the production. These results can be applied to the development economical-viable enzymatic production of biodiesel in industrial scale.
A recent paper (Quantum Info. Process 16.9, 2017) proposes a classical framework named Quantum Simulation Logic (QSL) capable of an efficient classical simulation of Deutsch–Jozsa and Simon ...algorithms. In this comment, we show instances of the Deutsch–Jozsa (DJ) and the Simon quantum algorithms that generate incorrect results with the QSL version, contradicting the proposal and the main results of the original paper.
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