Pharmacologic modulation of experimentally induced allergic asthma

Allergic asthma is the most frequent disease of the respiratory tract. The aim of the current experimental and clinical studies was to find new sources of drugs able to control asthmatic inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. Our experimental studies were focused on efficiency evaluation of substances able to influence activities of ion channels, phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoforms, substances from the group of polyphenols and NO metabolism modulators during experimentally induced allergic asthma

Biotechnological production and application of fructooligosaccharides

Currently, prebiotics are all carbohydrates of relatively short chain length. An important group is the fructooligosaccharides, which are a special kind of prebiotics associated to their selective stimulation of the activity of certain groups of colonic bacteria that have a positive and beneficial effect on intestinal microbiota, reducing incidence of gastrointestinal infections, respiratory and also possessing a recognized bifidogenic effect. Traditionally, these prebiotic compounds have been obtained through extraction processes from some plants, as well as through enzymatic hydrolysis of sucrose. However, different fermentative methods have also been proposed for the production of fructooligosaccharides, such as solid-state fermentation utilizing various agroindustrial by-products. By optimizing the culture parameters, fructooligosaccharides yields and productivity can be improved. The use of immobilized enzymes and cells has also been proposed as being an effective and economic method for large-scale production of fructooligosaccharides. This paper is an overview on the results of recent studies on fructooligosacharides biosynthesis, physicochemical properties, sources, biotechnological production and applications.The authors thank the National Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT) for funding this study. D. A. Flores-Maltos thank the CONACYT for the financial support provided for her postgraduate studies in the Food Science and Technology Program, Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Mexico

Characterization of Fe3O4Fe_3O_4 Magnetic Nanoparticles Modified with Dextran and Investigation of Their Interaction with Protein Amyloid Aggregates

Functionalised magnetic nanoparticles composed of $Fe_3O_4$ particles stabilised by sodium oleate and subsequently modified with dextran (MFDEX) were prepared by the co-precipitation method. Their morphology and particle size distribution were observed by scanning electron microscopy and photon cross correlation spectroscopy. In order to confirm the modification of magnetite surface with dextran physical techniques, including infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and magnetic measurement, were used. Finally, the effect of MFDEX on amyloid fibrillar aggregates of human insulin and hen egg white lysozyme, typical amyloidogenic proteins, was investigated. In vitro interaction of MFDEX with protein amyloid fibrils resulted into destruction of amyloid aggregates. The anti-amyloid activity makes MFDEX of potential interest as therapeutic agent against amyloid-related diseases