The prognostic value of the cardiopulmonary exercise test in patients with heart failure who have been treated with beta-blockers.

Objectives: The prevalence of chronic heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction (CHF-REF) has increased over the last decade. The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is an established tool for managing these patients. For patients who are administered beta-blockers, its predictive value is debated.

Biologic evaluation of curcumin and structural derivatives in cancer chemoprevention model systems.

Curcumin is a natural product widely used as a spice in food. It has been shown to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 and to suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced COX-2 and iNOS gene expression. In the present study, curcumin and 22 of its derivatives were evaluated for their chemopreventive potential.

Fluoride curcumin derivatives: new mitochondrial uncoupling agents.

The mitochondrial effects of two fluoride curcumin derivatives were studied. They induced the collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi), increased mitochondrial respiration, and decreased O(2)*- production and promoted Ca(2+) release. These effects were reversed by the recoupling agent 6-Ketocholestanol, but not by cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the permeability transition pore (PTP), suggesting that these compounds act as uncoupling agents.

Effects of curcumin and curcumin derivatives on mitochondrial permeability transition pore.

Curcumin (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is a natural compound with antiproliferative properties. Recent studies suggest that these properties might be due to the ability of curcumin to induce apoptosis in tumor cells by increasing the permeability of the mitochondrial membrane. In the present study, we confirm these observations and provide a molecular mechanism for the action of curcumin in rat liver mitochondria.

Quantitative determination of loadings and oxidation products of polystyrene-bound phosphines using 31p MAS NMR.

The use of (31)P magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR for the quantitative determination of resin loadings and the building up of oxidation products was investigated. Loadings of polystyrene-bound phosphines were evaluated via addition of triphenyl phosphate as reference compound. Results for a series of phosphines are consistent with those obtained from well-established analytical methods.

Characterization of humoral and cellular immune responses in mice induced by immunization with HIV-1 Nef regulatory protein encapsulated in poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles.

We have characterized the humoral and cellular immune responses of BALB/c mice immunized with HIV-1 Nef regulatory protein encapsulated in poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) PLG particles. Three groups of mice were immunized with Nef PLG, Nef in the presence of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or Nef alone in PBS. When titers were compared 7 months after the last injection, anti-Nef titers in mice immunized with Nef PLG were still close to the maximum, whereas a significant decrease was observed in mice immunized with Nef alone (five times lower) or with Nef in CFA (three times lower).