Plasma progesterone concentrations in Toggenburg goats submitted to estrous synchronization reusing autoclaved intravaginal progesterone devices.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma P4 concentration in Toggenburg goats receiving autoclaved progesterone devices for estrous synchronization. Progesterone analysis allows us to infer that the autoclaving process does not influence progesterone availability and so this technique can be a simple and valuable tool to reduce sanitary risks of disease transmission without alterating fertility in goats. [Concentrações de progesterona plasmática em cabras da raça Toggenburg submetidas à sincronização de estro reutilizando dispositivos intravaginais de progesterona autoclavados]

Superstructure based on β-CD self-assembly induced by a small guest molecule

The size, shape and surface chemistry of nanoparticles play an important role in cellular interaction. Thus, the main objective of the present study was the determination of the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) self-assembly thermodynamic parameters and its structure, aiming to use these assemblies as a possible controlled drug release system. Light scattering measurements led us to obtain the β-CD's critical aggregation concentration (cac) values, and consequently the thermodynamic parameters of the β-CD spontaneous self-assembly in aqueous solution: Δ[subscript agg]G[superscript o] = −16.31 kJ mol[superscript −1], Δ[subscript agg]H[superscript o] = −26.48 kJ mol[superscript −1] and TΔ[subscript agg]S[superscript o] = −10.53 kJ mol[superscript −1] at 298.15 K. Size distribution of the self-assembled nanoparticles below and above cac was 1.5 nm and 60–120 nm, respectively. The number of β-CD molecules per cluster and the second virial coefficient were identified through Debye's plot and molecular dynamic simulations proposed the three-fold assembly for this system below cac. Ampicillin (AMP) was used as a drug model in order to investigate the key role of the guest molecule in the self-assembly process and the β-CD:AMP supramolecular system was studied in solution, aiming to determine the structure of the supramolecular aggregate. Results obtained in solution indicated that the β-CD's cac was not affected by adding AMP. Moreover, different complex stoichiometries were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry experiments.Brazil. National Institute in Science and Technology in Nanobiopharmaceutics (NanoBiofar) (CNPq/MCT/FAPEMIG)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (Brazil)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant 1-R01-DE016516-03)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (Process 4597-08-7)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (CEX APQ-00498/08

Evaluation of in vitro Antifungal Activity of Xylosma prockia (Turcz.) Turcz. (Salicaceae) Leaves Against Cryptococcus spp.

Cryptococcus species are responsible for important systemic mycosis and are estimated to cause millions of new cases annually. The available therapy is limited due to the high toxicity and the increasing rates of yeast resistance to antifungal drugs. Popularly known as “sucará,” Xylosma prockia (Turcz.) Turcz. (Salicaceae) is a native plant from Brazil with little information on its pharmacological potential. In this work, we evaluated in vitro anticryptococcal effects of the leaf ethanolic extract of X. prockia and its fractions against Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans. We also evaluated phenotypic alterations caused by ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) (chosen according to its biological results). The liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of EAF demonstrated the presence of phenolic metabolites that belong to three structurally related groups as majority compounds: caffeoylquinic acid, coumaroyl-glucoside, and caffeoyl-glucoside/deoxyhexosyl-caffeoyl glucoside derivatives. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against C. gattii and C. neoformans ranged from 8 to 64 mg/L and from 0.5 to 8 mg/L, for ethanolic extract and EAF, respectively. The EAF triggered an oxidative burst and promoted lipid peroxidation. EAF also induced a reduction of ergosterol content in the pathogen cell membrane. These effects were not associated with alterations in the cell surface charge or in the thermodynamic fingerprint of the molecular interaction between EAF and the yeasts evaluated. Cytotoxic experiments with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) demonstrated that EAF was more selective for yeasts than was PBMCs. The results may provide evidence that X. prockia leaf extract might indeed be a potential source of antifungal agents.Fil: Folly, Mariany L. C.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Ferreira, Gabriella F.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Salvador, Maiara R.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Sathler, Ana A.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: da Silva, Guilherme F.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Santos, Joice Castelo Branco. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Santos, Julliana R. A. dos. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Nunes Neto, Wallace Ribeiro. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Rodrigues, João Francisco Silva. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Fernandes, Elizabeth Soares. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: da Silva, Luís Cláudio Nascimento. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: de Freitas, Gustavo José Cota. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Denadai, Ângelo M.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; BrasilFil: Rodrigues, Ivanildes V.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Mendonça, Leonardo M.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; BrasilFil: Monteiro, Andrea Souza. Ceuma University; BrasilFil: Santos, Daniel Assis. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Cabrera, Gabriela Myriam. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Siless, Gastón Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Unidad de Microanálisis y Métodos Físicos en Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Lang, Karen L.. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora; Brasi

A New Direction to Athletic Performance: Understanding the Acute and Longitudinal Responses to Backward Running

Backward running (BR) is a form of locomotion that occurs in short bursts during many overground field and court sports. It has also traditionally been used in clinical settings as a method to rehabilitate lower body injuries. Comparisons between BR and forward running (FR) have led to the discovery that both may be generated by the same neural circuitry. Comparisons of the acute responses to FR reveal that BR is characterised by a smaller ratio of braking to propulsive forces, increased step frequency, decreased step length, increased muscle activity and reliance on isometric and concentric muscle actions. These biomechanical differences have been critical in informing recent scientific explorations which have discovered that BR can be used as a method for reducing injury and improving a variety of physical attributes deemed advantageous to sports performance. This includes improved lower body strength and power, decreased injury prevalence and improvements in change of direction performance following BR training. The current findings from research help improve our understanding of BR biomechanics and provide evidence which supports BR as a useful method to improve athlete performance. However, further acute and longitudinal research is needed to better understand the utility of BR in athletic performance programs