Natural porous agar materials from macroalgae.

Porous agar materials have been prepared from marine macroalgae species using a simple microwave-assisted extraction/drying methodology, providing a new family of polysaccharide derived porous solids. The microwave-assisted extraction allows a more efficient and less time-consuming extraction of the polysaccharide compared to conventional extraction protocols based on conventional heating. DRIFT and (13)C NMR results indicated that the internal agar structure (based on d-galactose and 3,6-anhydro-l-galactose linked units) was preserved after the extraction methodology, which opens a wide range of future possibilities and applications for this new family of porous polysaccharides.

Extraction, characterization and in vivo neuromodulatory activity of phytosterols from microalga Dunaliella tertiolecta.

In recent years, a great deal of research has been devoted to identify new natural sources of phytosterols and to improve methods for their recovery and purification. In this regard, unexplored natural sources of bioactive ingredients are gaining much attention since they can lead to the isolation of new compounds or bioactivities. The field of available natural sources has been further increased by including algae and, even more interestingly, microalgae.

Maternal prolactin inhibition during lactation is associated to renal dysfunction in their adult rat offspring.

The renal function of rats whose mothers had hypoprolactinemia at the end of lactation was evaluated during development. Lactating Wistar rats were treated with bromocriptine (BRO, 1 mg twice a day, s.c.

Blocking leptin action one week after weaning reverts most of the programming caused by neonatal hyperleptinemia in the adult rat.

Hyperleptinemia during lactation programs for higher serum leptin in 30-day-old and adult rats, associated with metabolic changes. Here we evaluated the inhibition of serum leptin at 29 and 30 days on the metabolic phenotype of rats programmed with leptin during lactation. Pups from Wistar rats were saline-injected or leptin-injected from postnatal day 1 to day 10.

Resveratrol reduces lipid peroxidation and increases sirtuin 1 expression in adult animals programmed by neonatal protein restriction.

Resveratrol (Res) has been associated with protective effects against oxidative stress. This study evaluated the effect of Res over lipid peroxidation, antioxidant defense, hepatic sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), which up-regulates antioxidant enzymes, and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) in adult offspring whose mothers were protein restricted during lactation. Lactating Wistar rats were divided into control (C) group, which were fed a normal diet (23% protein), and low-protein and high-carbohydrate (LPHC) group, which were fed a diet containing 8% protein.

Phytosterols from Dunaliella tertiolecta and Dunaliella salina: a potentially novel industrial application.

Sterols have been extracted and analysed from Dunaliellatertiolecta and Dunaliella salina, in order to evaluate a potentially novel industrial exploitation of these microalgae as source of phytosterols. The effect of salt concentration on sterols yields has been studied varying the quantities of NaCl into culture medium. Twelve sterols were identified by Gas-chromatographic MS/MS analysis for both algal strains.

Early maternal hyperleptinemia programs adipogenic phenotype in rats.

We have previously reported on the treatment of maternal rats with leptin during the three last days of lactation program for overweight and leptin hypothalamic resistance in the offspring. Here we have investigated whether treatment of maternal rats with leptin in the first ten days of lactation can program metabolic dysfunctions on the adult offspring. Lactating rats were divided into 2 groups: rats (LEP) injected with recombinant mouse leptin (8 microg/100 g/body weight, daily during the first 10 days of lactation) and control group (C) that received the same volume of saline.

Role of neonatal hyperleptinaemia on serum adiponectin and suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 expression in young rats.

Previously we had shown that neonatal leptin treatment programmes for both hyperleptinaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, which lead to leptin resistance and low expression of the hypothalamic leptin receptor (OB-Rb) of rats aged 150 d. Here we investigated in young post-weaned rats (age 30 d) if leptin treatment during lactation induces leptin and insulin resistance and if those changes are accompanied by changes in the suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 (SOCS-3) expression and serum adiponectin concentration. After delivery, the pups were divided into two groups: (1) a leptin group (Lep) that were injected with leptin daily (8 microg/100 g body weight subcutaneously) for the first 10 d of lactation; (2) a control (C) group, receiving saline.

Molecular effects of lithium exposure during mouse and chick gastrulation and subsequent valve dysmorphogenesis.

Background: Lithium (Li) has been associated with cardiac teratogenicity in the developing fetus. We took advantage of the association of therapeutic administration of Li with an increase in heart defects to gain insight into both normal and pathological heart and valve development with GSK-3 inhibition. The objective of this study was to define whether Li mimicry of canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling induces cardiac valve defects.

The Medical Examining Board speaks on pain management: everyone should listen.

Purpose: To alert physicians to the Statement of the Connecticut Medical Examining Board on the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain and provide a historical account of events leading to the promulgation of the Statement.

Findings: Studies conducted over the past five years have identified issues on pain control requiring attention. Established medical organizations and regulatory boards in Connecticut are attempting to address patient needs for treatment of pain while clarifying expectations of physicians, thereby reducing the likelihood of inappropriate pain treatment and licensing sanctions.

MCT-4, A511/Basigin and EF5 expression patterns during early chick cardiomyogenesis indicate cardiac cell differentiation occurs in a hypoxic environment.

We have identified the presence of the hypoxia marker EF5 in the stage 4/5 chick heart fields. This suggests that cardiac cell differentiation occurs in a relatively anaerobic environment. Monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) studies in adult cardiac myocytes have demonstrated that MCTs catalyze proton-linked pyruvate and lactate transport activity.

Review of recent developments in the molecular characterization of recombinant alfa interferons on the 40th anniversary of the discovery of interferon.

Recombinant alfa interferons (IFN-alpha s) are approved worldwide for the treatment of a variety of cancers and diseases of virologic origin. A series of recent advances in the molecular characterization of recombinant IFN-alpha s have allowed the determination of the three-dimensional IFN-alpha 2b structure by high-resolution x-ray crystallography. We review here recent developments in our understanding of the molecular and physicochemical properties of recombinant IFN-alpha, including our current state of knowledge of the IFN-alpha gene family and the multiple species of human leukocyte IFN.

Recommended guidelines for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.

Purpose: Management of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) has customarily involved symptomatic treatment with opioids in conjunction with supportive care. Alternatively, patients refractory to conventional therapy have been given octreotide, a somatostatin analogue. Although this agent has been effective against CID, no widely accepted treatment guidelines that incorporate its use currently exist.

Biological properties of recombinant alpha-interferons: 40th anniversary of the discovery of interferons.

IFNs were first described as potent antiviral agents 40 years ago, and recombinant IFN-alpha2a and IFN-alpha2b were approved for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia just 11 years ago. Today, alpha-IFNs are approved worldwide for the treatment of a variety of malignancies and virologic diseases. Although the exact mechanism of action of IFN-alpha in the treatment of such diseases is not fully understood, many advances have been made in the characterization of the physicochemical and diverse biological properties of this highly pleiotropic cytokine.

Molecular and biologic characterization of recombinant interferon-alpha2b.

Recombinant IFN-alpha2b (Intron A, Schering-Plough Corp, Kenilworth, NJ), derived from Escherichia coli, is currently approved worldwide for the therapy of various cancers and chronic hepatitis B and C. We describe here the purity and identity tests for both physicochemical properties and bioactivity that have been developed for the characterization of highly purified IFN-alpha2b with a specific activity of 2.5 x 10(8) IU/mg protein.

Zinc mediated dimer of human interferon-alpha 2b revealed by X-ray crystallography.

Background: The human alpha-interferon (huIFN-alpha) family displays broad spectrum antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory activities on a variety of cell types. The diverse biological activities of the IFN-alpha's are conveyed to cells through specific interactions with cell-surface receptors. Despite considerable effort, no crystal structure of a member of this family has yet been reported, because the quality of the protein crystals have been unsuitable for crystallographic studies.

Structure and humanization of a rat monoclonal Fab to human interleukin-5.

The X-ray crystal structure of a rat monoclonal Fab JES1-39D10, raised against recombinant human interleukin-5, has been determined with the use of molecular replacement techniques and refined at 2.7 A resolution by simulated annealing. The overall structure is similar to a murine Fab HyHEL-10 that is specific for hen egg white lysozyme.

Cytotoxicity of white blood cells activated by granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte/macrophage-colony-stimulating factor and macrophage-colony-stimulating factor against tumor cells in the presence of various monoclonal antibodies.

Unconjugated monoclonal antibodies (mAb) kill tumor cells in vivo by activating immune functions. One of these is ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity). The efficacy of mAbs might be augmented if the cytotoxic capacity of the effector cells could be increased.

Increased interleukin-4 production in response to mast cell mediators and human type I collagen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Mast cell synovial hyperplasia can occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Histamine can accelerate synovitis and heparin can inhibit lymphocyte function. Since interleukin-4 (IL-4) can stimulate murine mast cell and IgE synthesis, we determined whether mast cell mediators and anti-IL-4 might effect lymphocyte proliferation from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

IFN inhibits inflammatory responses and protective immunity in mice infected with the nematode parasite, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

Mice infected with the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nb) develop responses associated with enhanced production of IL-4 (increased serum IgE levels and intestinal mucosal mastocytosis) and IL-5 (tissue and peripheral blood eosinophilia). The antagonistic effects of IFN on IL-4-mediated responses prompted an examination of the effects of IFN on the host response to Nb. Treatment with rIFN-alpha and rIFN-gamma induced a marked increase in parasite egg production (fecundity) in BALB/c mice infected with Nb and delayed intestinal expulsion of adult worms.