The Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Silver/Gold Nanoparticles Obtained by "Green Synthesis" from Willow Bark and Their Formulations as Potential Innovative Pharmaceutical Substances.

Green chemistry is a pharmaceutical industry tool, which, when implemented correctly, can lead to a minimization in resource consumption and waste. An aqueous extract of L. was employed for the efficient and rapid synthesis of silver/gold particle nanostructures via an inexpensive, nontoxic and eco-friendly procedure.

Leptin G-2548A and leptin receptor Q223R gene polymorphisms are not associated with obesity in Romanian subjects.

We aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms LEP G-2548A and LEPR Q223R in the human leptin (LEP), and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes are associated with obesity and metabolic traits in a sample of Romanian population. Two hundred and two subjects divided in obese (body mass index, BMI30 kg/m(2)), and non-obese were included in this study. The polymorphisms were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.

Relationship of eNOS gene variants to diseases that have in common an endothelial cell dysfunction.

The endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is a common characteristic of various pathologies that include atherosclerosis, hypertension, and Fabry's disease. Aware of the role of eNO and ACE in EC dysfunction, we questioned whether polymorphism of eNOS and/or ACE gene may be a common denominator in these pathologies. Patients with CHD (108), HT (109), Fabry's disease (37) and healthy subjects (control, 141) were genotyped for the eNOSG894T by RFLP-PCR technique and for eNOS4b/a, and ACEI/D polymorphisms by PCR amplification.

Endothelial cell response to hyperlipemia. Activation-dysfunction-injury, the protective role of simvastatin.

Experiments on hypercholesterolemic rabbits and hamsters (HH) showed that hyperlipemia induces initial activation of endothelial cells (EC) expressed by modulation of constitutive functions: increased transcytosis of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and enhanced synthesis of basal lamina. Accumulated LDL appears in the meshes of basal lamina as modified and reassembled lipoproteins (MRL) that, together with hyperlipemia, triggers EC dysfunction. This induces monocyte recruitment, adhesion, diapedesis and residence within the subendothelium where upon activation become macrophages, take up MRL and turn into foam cells.

Beneficial effects of L-arginine supplementation in experimental hyperlipemia-hyperglycemia in the hamster.

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether administration of L-arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide synthesis, was able to ameliorate the endothelial dysfunction and the morphological changes induced by the combined insult of hyperlipemia and hyperglycemia. To this purpose, golden Syrian hamsters were rendered simultaneously hyperlipemic and diabetic (HD group) for 24 weeks, and then orally treated with 622.14 mg/kg per day L-arginine, for 12 weeks (HD + L-arg group).