Halimane Derivatives from Plectranthus ornatus Codd. as Novel Anti-cancer Agents.

The Plectranthus genus is often cited for its medicinal properties. Plectranthus ornatus Codd. is traditionally used in Africa for the treatment of gastric and liver diseases and their leaves are used for their antibiotic action.

The Performance of Using the Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) Index to Assess Intraoperative Nociception in Cats.

Background: The monitoring of nociception/antinociception poses a significant challenge during anesthesia, making the incorporation of new tools like the Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) monitor an added value in feline anesthesia.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and speed of PTA monitoring when compared to heart rate (HR) in detecting surgical stimuli (SS) during the intraoperative period in 49 female cats undergoing ovariectomy (OV).

Methods: Instantaneous Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTAi) values, HR, , and non-invasive SAP and MAP were continuously monitored and systematically assessed.

End-of-Life Antibiotherapy: Factors Associated With Prescription.

Introduction Most cancer patients spend their last days of life in the hospital, often receiving invasive and non-palliative interventions. These patients are particularly susceptible to infections, which are a major cause of death. The decision to use antimicrobials in a palliative context is difficult, given the lack of guidelines.

Preparation and characterization of sequilhos-type biscuits added with almond flour of .

("macaúba") is a species that during processing generates a large amount of waste. The use of this residue for the production of flour for incorporation into food products is a way to minimize the cost and nutritionally enrich the final product. This work aimed to develop and analyze, in terms of physico-chemical and microbiological properties, cookies with macaúba almond cake residual flour.

Silver(I)-Tazobactam Frameworks with Improved Antimicrobial Activity.

Tazobactam (TazoH) is a penicillinate sulfone β-lactamase inhibitor with negligible antimicrobial activity, commonly used with other antibiotics to provide an effective combination against many susceptible organisms expressing β-lactamases. Two novel Ag(I)-tazobactam frameworks ([Ag(I)-Tazo] and [Ag(I)-Tazo]) prepared by mechanochemistry are presented herein as alternative forms to improve the antimicrobial activity of tazobactam by exploring synergistic effects with silver, being the first crystal structures reported of tazobactam coordinating to a metal site. The topological analysis of the 3D ([Ag(I)-Tazo]) and 2D+1D ([Ag(I)-Tazo]) frameworks revealed underlying nets with the (CrB self-dual) and decorated topologies, respectively.

Screening the dermatological potential of species components: antioxidant and inhibitory capacities over elastase, collagenase and tyrosinase.

A series of spp. plant extracts (aqueous, acetonic, methanolic and ethyl acetic) obtained from eight different species, and previously isolated compounds (ranging from polyphenols, diterpenes and triterpenes), were assayed for inhibition of the skin-related enzymes tyrosinase, collagenase and elastase, and for studying their antioxidant properties. The ethyl acetic extracts of and registered the highest antioxidant activity, whereas acetonic, methanolic and ethyl acetic extracts of , , and concerning the enzymatic inhibition assays revealed high anti-tyrosinase and anti-collagenase activities.

Antiarthritic and Antihyperalgesic Properties of Ethanolic Extract from Mart. (Amaranthaceae) Aerial Parts.

Mart. (Amaranthaceae) is used in folk medicine as a natural analgesic, and in Brazil, the species of genus is used for rheumatism. However, scientific evidence which supports its popular use as an analgesic is scarce.

Unveiling the Mechanism of Action of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone on an MRSA/VISA Strain: Membrane and Cell Wall Interactions.

The number of cases of failure in the treatment of infections associated with resistant bacteria is on the rise, due to the decreasing efficacy of current antibiotics. Notably, 7α-Acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (AHR), a diterpene isolated from different species, showed antibacterial activity, namely against Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains. The high antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity render this natural compound an interesting alternative against resistant bacteria.

Bioactivity of Isostructural Hydrogen Bonding Frameworks Built from Pipemidic Acid Metal Complexes.

We report herein three novel complexes whose design was based on the approach that consists of combining commercially available antibiotics with metals to attain different physicochemical properties and promote antimicrobial activity. Thus, new isostructural three-dimensional (3D) hydrogen bonding frameworks of pipemidic acid with manganese (II), zinc (II) and calcium (II) have been synthesised by mechanochemistry and are stable under shelf conditions. Notably, the antimicrobial activity of the compounds is maintained or even increased; in particular, the activity of the complexes is augmented against , a representative of Gram-negative bacteria that have emerged as a major concern in drug resistance.

Clinical Relevance of the serum CTLA-4 in Cats with Mammary Carcinoma.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) serves an important role in breast cancer progression, which has led to the development of novel immunotherapies aimed at blocking tumor immune evasion. Although feline mammary carcinoma is increasingly recognized as a valuable cancer model, no studies on CTLA-4 function had been conducted in this species. The serum CTLA-4, TNF-α and IL-6 levels of 57 female cats with mammary carcinoma were determined by ELISA, and immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate CTLA-4 and FoxP3 expression in tumor cells and interstitial lymphocytes.

Validation of a new tool for evaluating subjects' satisfaction with medicine package leaflets: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Background: Package leaflets of medicines need to be intelligible, but tools for their evaluation are scarce.

Objective: To validate a new tool for assessing subjects' satisfaction with medicine package leaflets (LiS-RPL).

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in two regions of Portugal (Lisbon and Centre).

Assessment of and gene status and expression profile in feline mammary tumors: findings and guidelines.

In humans, the gene amplification and overexpression are biomarkers for invasive breast cancer and a therapeutic target. Also, gene aberrations predict the response to anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy. Although feline mammary tumors (FMTs) are good models in comparative oncology, scarce data is available regarding the and status.

Antitubercular and anti-inflammatory properties screening of natural products from Plectranthus species.

Aim: Confirm the use of Plectanthus spp. plants in traditional medicine, particularly as anti-inflammatory and anti-infective agents.

Materials & Methods: Compounds previously isolated from Plectranthus spp.

Ibero⁻American Consensus on Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners: Safety, Nutritional Aspects and Benefits in Food and Beverages.

International scientific experts in food, nutrition, dietetics, endocrinology, physical activity, paediatrics, nursing, toxicology and public health met in Lisbon on 2⁻4 July 2017 to develop a Consensus on the use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) as substitutes for sugars and other caloric sweeteners. LNCS are food additives that are broadly used as sugar substitutes to sweeten foods and beverages with the addition of fewer or no calories. They are also used in medicines, health-care products, such as toothpaste, and food supplements.

Nanotechnological strategies for nerve growth factor delivery: Therapeutic implications in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with amyloid-β peptide misfolding and aggregation. Neurotrophic factors, such as nerve growth factor (NGF), can prevent neuronal damage and rescue the cholinergic neurons that undergo cell death in AD, reverse deposition of extracellular amyloid plaques and improve cognitive deficits. However, NGF administration is hampered by the poor pharmacokinetic profile of the therapeutic protein and its inability to cross the blood-brain barrier, which requires specialised drug delivery systems (DDS) for efficient NGF delivery to the brain.