45 research outputs found
Changes in body mass index by birth cohort in Japanese adults: results from the National Nutrition Survey of Japan 1956–2005
Background The National Nutrition Survey, Japan (NNS-J) provides annual anthropometric information for a whole nation over 50 years. Based on this survey, the mean body mass index (BMI) of Japanese men and elderly women has increased in recent decades, but that of young women has decreased. We examined the effect of birth cohort on this phenomenon
Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and immunostimulatory effect of extracts from Byrsonima crassa Nied. (Malpighiaceae)
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several <it>in vitro </it>studies have looked at the effect of medicinal plant extracts against <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>(<it>H. pylori</it>). Regardless of the popular use of <it>Byrsonima crassa </it>(<it>B. crassa</it>) as antiemetic, diuretic, febrifuge, to treat diarrhea, gastritis and ulcers, there is no data on its effects against <it>H. pylori</it>. In this study, we evaluated the anti-<it>H. pylori </it>of <it>B. crassa </it>leaves extracts and its effects on reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediates induction by murine peritoneal macrophages.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by broth microdilution method and the production of hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) and nitric oxide (NO) by the horseradish peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenol red and Griess reaction, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The methanolic (MeOH) and chloroformic (CHCl<sub>3</sub>) extracts inhibit, <it>in vitro</it>, the growth of <it>H. pylori </it>with MIC value of 1024 μg/ml. The MeOH extract induced the production H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2 </sub>and NO, but CHCl<sub>3 </sub>extract only NO.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Based in our results, <it>B. crassa </it>can be considered a source of compounds with anti-<it>H. pylori </it>activity, but its use should be done with caution in treatment of the gastritis and peptic ulcers, since the reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediates are involved in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal injury induced by ulcerogenic agents and <it>H. pylori </it>infections.</p
Amphiphilic Guanidinocalixarenes Inhibit Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and Lectin-Stimulated Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Signaling
We
recently reported on the activity of cationic amphiphiles in
inhibiting TLR4 activation and subsequent production of inflammatory
cytokines in cells and in animal models. Starting from the assumption
that opportunely designed cationic amphiphiles can behave as CD14/MD-2
ligands and therefore modulate the TLR4 signaling, we present here
a panel of amphiphilic guanidinocalixarenes whose structure
was computationally optimized to dock into MD-2 and CD14 binding sites.
Some of these calixarenes were active in inhibiting, in a dose-dependent
way, the LPS-stimulated TLR4 activation and TLR4-dependent cytokine
production in human and mouse cells. Moreover, guanidinocalixarenes
also inhibited TLR4 signaling when TLR4 was activated by a non-LPS
stimulus, the plant lectin PHA. While the activity of guanidinocalixarenes
in inhibiting LPS toxic action has previously been related to their
capacity to bind LPS, we suggest a direct antagonist effect of calixarenes
on TLR4/MD-2 dimerization, pointing at the calixarene moiety as a
potential scaffold for the development of new TLR4-directed therapeutics