Local synthesis of immunoglobulins in neuropathies

It is essential to know how the immune system acts in different neurological diseases, some of them non very well known or of unknown etiology at all. It was applied Reiber and Felgenhauer's formula in 56 patients with different diseases. IgA, IgM, IgG and albumin were quantified in sera and cerebrospinal fluid by simple immunodiffusion. It was observed more frequent IgG local synthesis and IgA in this sample.     

Osteonecrosis of the Jaws in Patients with Hereditary Thrombophilia/Hypofibrinolysis—From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Implications

Osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) usually has a clear etiology. Local infection or trauma, radiotherapy and drugs that disrupt the vascular supply or bone turnover in the jaws are its major contributors. The thrombotic occlusion of the bone’s venous outflow that occurs in individuals with hereditary thrombophilia and/or hypofibrinolysis has a less known impact on jaw health and healing capability. Our research provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date and systematized information on the prevalence and significance of hereditary thrombophilia and/or hypofibrinolysis states in ONJ. We found that hereditary prothrombotic abnormalities are common in patients with ONJ refractory to conventional medical and dental treatments. Thrombophilia traits usually coexist with hypofibrinolysis traits. We also found that frequently acquired prothrombotic abnormalities coexist with hereditary ones and enhance their negative effect on the bone. Therefore, we recommend a personalized therapeutic approach that addresses, in particular, the modifiable risk factors of ONJ. Patients will have clear benefits, as they will be relieved of persistent pain and repeated dental procedures.     

Biomass estimation of mixed forest landscape using a Fourier transform texture-based approach on very-high-resolution optical satellite imagery

Assessment of forest structure parameters via remote-sensing data offers the opportunity to examine stand parameters and to detect degradation and forest dynamics, such as above-ground biomass (AGB), at the landscape scale. While much attention has focused on spectrum-based and radar backscatter approaches for assessing forest biomass, texture-based approaches show strong promise. This work makes use of the novel Fourier transform textural ordination (FOTO) method, which involves the combination of 2D fast Fourier transform (FFT) and ordination through principal component analysis (PCA) for characterizing the structural and textural properties of vegetation. This technique presents the potential of Fourier transform approaches in estimating the different forest types, their stand structure, and biomass dynamics in the context of an oil palm–tropical forest landscape in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The method was applied to the recordings of very-high-resolution (VHR) Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) imagery of the study area. The technique proved useful in distinguishing between the forest types and developing individual biomass estimate models for various forest types. Results show that the FOTO method is able correctly to resolve high AGB values of various forest types. These findings are in agreement with the results based on ground measurements.     

Anorexic contribution to increased linoleate mobilization and oxidation in lymphoma-bearing mice

To test for a regulatory defect in adipose triacylglycerol (essential) fatty acid mobilization in lymphoma-bearing mice, free [1-¹⁴C]linoleic acid/mouse serum albumin was injectediv into lymphoma-bearing and control mice, adapted to a reversed light cycle, and studied in three dietary states in the dark period. Mean daily food intake decreased in mice with small and large tumor burdens. Plasma free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation rates, which approximate FFA mobilization rates, were estimated by multicompartmental analysis (CONSAM). Oxidation of linoleate to CO₂ was reduced significantly (85%) inad libitum fed as compared to briefly fasted control mice but not in fedvs. fasted mice with large or small tumor burdens. However, plasma FFA oxidation rates to CO₂ did not differ in briefly fasted tumor-bearing and pairfed control mice. When re-fed a 250-mg test meal, briefly fasted mice with small tumors suppressed plasma free linoleic acid oxidation, as did controls. During simulated night, mildly anorexic, tumor-bearing mice with small tumor burdens mobilized essential fatty acids much faster than controls. This could explain body fat loss. The abnormally rapid rates of FFA (free linoleic acid) mobilization at night probably result from anorexia rather than from inability of food to suppress fat mobilization.     

Non-digestible fraction of cooked bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar Bayo Madero suppresses colonic aberrant crypt foci in azoxymethane-induced rats

The non-digestible fraction (NDF) of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivar Bayo Madero was evaluated for its chemopreventive effect on azoxymethane (AOM) induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats. Diets containing cooked beans (CB) or its non-digestible fraction (NDF) were fed to 72 male rats after 2 azoxymethane injections (15 mg kg(-1) of body weight once a week for 2 weeks). ACF number, short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and β-glucuronidase activity were measured in colon sections from rats sacrificed 7 weeks after the last AOM injection. Food intake and weight gain of rats were unaffected by CB and NDF. CB and NDF suppressed the AOM-induced formation of ACF (0.8 and 1.5 ACF/distal zone, respectively vs. 6.6 ACF/distal zone based on methylene blue stain) and lowered β-glucuronidase activity in cecal, colonic and fecal content compared to AOM group. SCFA production was not significantly different among fecal, cecal and colonic content. These results indicate that CB and NDF from Bayo Madero provide direct chemoprotection against early stage of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer in rats.     

Energy‐dependent effects of resveratrol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The metabolic effects induced by resveratrol have been associated mainly with the consumption of high‐calorie diets; however, its effects with standard or low‐calorie diets remain unclear. To better understand the interactions between resveratrol and cellular energy levels, we used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model. Herein it is shown that resveratrol: (a) decreased cell viability in an energy‐dependent manner; (b) lessening of cell viability occurred specifically when cells were under cellular respiration; and (c) inhibition of oxygen consumption in state 4 occurred at low and standard energy levels, whereas at high energy levels oxygen consumption was promoted. These findings indicate that the effects of resveratrol are dependent on the cellular energy status and linked to metabolic respiration. Importantly, our study also revealed that S. cerevisiae is a suitable and useful model to elucidate the molecular targets of resveratrol under different nutritional statuses. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New carbon- and sulfur-based ligands in catalysis

Homogeneous catalysis is a field of research that has gained central importance in both organic and inorganic chemistry and the use of well-defined ligand systems in the synthesis of transition metal complexes has had an enormous impact on the development of such catalysts. Neutral, two-electron donor ligands based on phosphorous and nitrogen have been tremendously successful as ancillary entities for late-transition metal (LTM) catalysts, whereas ligands based on anionic nitrogen, oxygen and the cyclopentadienyl motif (Cp(-)) have propelled early-transition metal (ETM) catalysis forward. We believe that expanding the ligand families capable of acting as successful entities in metal-mediated reactivity and catalysis is crucial for future discoveries in this field. Research in our group therefore tries to identify new non-chiral and chiral ligands for late-transition metal chemistry that are based on neutral, two-electron carbon and sulfur donor atoms. In particular, we have until now focused on the development of modular, monodentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (NHCs) that can serve as a basis for the development of chiral ligand frameworks for the application to asymmetric catalytic transformations. In the second major research project developed over the last six years, we have started an investigation on the use of chelating sulfoxide-based ligands in asymmetric late transition-metal based catalysis.     

Optimization of Factors Affecting Extraction of Antioxidants from Mango Seed

A microwave-assisted extraction procedure was developed to obtain extracts rich in antioxidants from mango seed. Central composite design ‘2⁵?+?star’ and response surface methodology were used in order to optimise the extraction factors: the water content in the acetone/water mixture used as extractant, seed weight-to-solvent volume ratio, number of steps, extraction time and pH of water. The results suggest that the extractant composition and the seed weight-to-solvent volume ratio were statistically the most significant factors. The optimum values of the factors that influence the capacity to inhibit lipid peroxidation (evaluated with the β-carotene bleaching test), scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid-free radicals and obtain extracts with high phenolic compound content (tannins and proanthocyanidins) were three steps; the mixture acetone/water (50:50, v/v) as extractant, a seed weight-to-solvent volume ratio of 1:30 (w/v), an extraction time of 0 min in the microwave (the rest of the extraction process includes homogenisation and centrifugation time), and a pH of 8.0.     

Development of Potent Inhibitors of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Virulence Factor Zmp1 and Evaluation of Their Effect on Mycobacterial Survival inside Macrophages

The enzyme Zmp1 is a zinc‐containing peptidase that plays a critical role in the pathogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Herein we describe the identification of a small set of Zmp1 inhibitors based on a novel 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐2‐hydroxamate scaffold. Among the synthesized compounds, N‐(benzyloxy)‐8‐hydroxyquinoline‐2‐carboxamide ( 1 c ) was found to be the most potent Zmp1 inhibitor known to date, and its binding mode was analyzed both by kinetics studies and molecular modeling, identifying critical interactions of 1 c with the zinc ion and residues in the active site. The effect of 1 c on intracellular Mycobacterium survival was assayed in J774 murine macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis H37Rv or M. bovis BCG and human monocyte‐derived macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were also assessed. Overall, inhibitor 1 c displays interesting in vitro antitubercular properties worthy of further investigation.