Abstraction of an object-oriented vocabulary by providing a standardized interface

Controlled vocabularies are ubiquitous in varied application fields. They are particularly helpful in the medical field since they can unify disparate terminologies and provide information in a compact, comprehensible manner. In this thesis, we present a mechanism to efficiently retrieve and update knowledge stored in a controlled vocabulary modeled as an Object-Oriented Database (OODB) system. We aim to provide a standardized interface to the vocabulary, such that the implementation details of the vocabulary are transparent to all users. The user of this standardized interface will typically be an application programmer who is trying to provide the vocabulary\u27s knowledge-base to end users. We first describe our approach to creating the standardized interface. We then present the software architecture and design for it. We conclude by describing the implementation of this standardized interface

ATTENUATING EFFECT OF TRITERPENOID SAPONIN RICH FRACTION OF ACHYRANTHES ASPERA LINN. ON ACUTE AND CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Objective: Achyranthes aspera Linn. is used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions in India. The present study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract of Achyranthes aspera (AA) and its active fraction using bioassay guided fractionation.Methods: The dry whole plant of AA was extracted with methanol and then fractionated with different polarity of solvents. Bioactive petroleum ether fraction was re-fractionated into triterpenoid saponin rich (TSR) and non-saponin subfractions and tested for anti-inflammatory activity. The activity of TSR subfraction was evaluated against oxidative stress induced by carrageenan in rat paw tissues.Results: TSR fraction showed significant (p<0.05) inhibition of rat paw oedema volume. Moreover, TSR fraction was also found to attenuate carrageenan induced oxidative damage by improving antioxidant enzymes levels. Furthermore, TSR fraction inhibited both heat and hypotonicity induced haemolysis of erythrocytes in vitro. In addition, TSR fraction significantly (p<0.05) reduced the granuloma formation in cotton pellet-induced granuloma in rats.Conclusions: The present study indicates TSR is a potential therapeutic for the treatment of inflammation-associated disorders.Â

Arzanol, a Potent mPGES-1 Inhibitor: Novel Anti-Inflammatory Agent

Arzanol is a novel phloroglucinol α-pyrone, isolated from a Mediterranean plant Helichrysum italicum (Roth) Don ssp. microphyllum which belongs to the family Asteraceae. Arzanol has been reported to possess a variety of pharmacological activities. However, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV, and antioxidant activities have been studied in some detail. Arzanol has been reported to inhibit inflammatory transcription factor NFκB activation, HIV replication in T cells, releases of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, and biosynthesis of PGE2 by potentially inhibiting mPGES-1 enzyme. Diversity of mechanisms of actions of arzanol may be useful in treatment of disease involving these inflammatory mediators such as autoimmune diseases and cancer. This review presents comprehensive information on the chemistry, structure-activity relationship, and pharmacological activities of arzanol. In addition this review discusses recent developments and the scope for future research in these aspects

Candida tropicalis biofilms matrix - involvement on its resistance to amphotericin B

Candida tropicalis has emerged as one of the most prevalent fungal pathogens, and its ability to form biofilms has been considered one of the most important virulence factors, since they represent high tolerance to antifungal agents. However, the mechanisms of biofilm resistance to antifungal agents remain poorly understood. Thus, the main goal of this study was to infer about the ability of amphotericin B (AMB) to control and combat C. tropicalis biofilms. Additionally, it was also intended to determine the influence of matrix components in bio- film resistance. AMB was unable to totally prevent biofilm formation and to eradicate C. tropicalis preformed biofilms. Moreover, AMB led to a significant increase of the biofilm production due to an augment of the total protein and carbohydrate contents of the matrix. The C. tropicalis biofilm matrix assumes an important role on its resistance to AMB.This work was supported by the Programa Operacional, Fatores de competitividade and by national funds through Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia on the scope of the projects FCT PTDC/SAU-MIC/119069/2010, RECI/EBB-EBI/0179/2012, and PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013. The authors also thank the Project "BioHealth - Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality; Ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000027, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER

Effect of voriconazole on Candida tropicalis biofilms: Relation with ERG genes expression

Candida tropicalis has emerged as the third most prevalent fungal pathogens and its ability to form biofilms has been considered one of the most important virulence factors, since biofilms represent high tolerance to antifungal agents. However, the mechanisms of C. tropicalis biofilm resistance to antifungals remain poorly understood. Thus, the main aim of this work was to infer about the effect of voriconazole on the formation and control of C. tropicalis biofilms and disclose its relationship with ERG genes' expression. Planktonic cells tolerance of several C. tropicalis clinical isolates to voriconazole was determined through of antifungal susceptibility test, and the effect of this azole against C. tropicalis biofilm formation and pre-formed biofilms was evaluated by cultivable cells determination and total biomass quantification. ERG genes expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. This work showed that C. tropicalis resistance to voriconazole is strain dependent and that voriconazole was able to partially control biofilm formation, but was unable to eradicate C. tropicalis pre-formed biofilms. Moreover, C. tropicalis biofilms resistance to voriconazole seems to be associated with alterations of sterol content in the cell membrane, resulting in ERG genes overexpression. Voriconazole is unable to control C. tropicalis biofilms, and the overexpression of ERG genes is a possible mechanism of biofilm resistance.TheauthorsthanktheFCTfortheStrategic Project of the UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, FCT and European Union funds (FEDER/COMPETE) for the project RECI/BBBEBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462). We also would like to acknowledge Pfizer , S.A. for the kindly donation of voriconazole

Candida tropicalis antifungal cross-resistance is related to different azole target (Erg11p) modifications

ABSTARCT: Candida tropicalis ranks between third and fourth among Candida species most commonly isolated from clinical specimens. Invasive candidiasis and candidemia are treated with amphotericin B or echinocandins as first-line therapy, with extended-spectrum triazoles as acceptable alternatives. Candida tropicalis is usually susceptible to all antifungal agents, although several azole drug-resistant clinical isolates are being reported. However, C. tropicalis resistant to amphotericin B is uncommon, and only a few strains have reliably demonstrated a high level of resistance to this agent. The resistance mechanisms operating in C. tropicalis strains isolated from clinical samples showing resistance to azole drugs alone or with amphotericin B cross-resistance were elucidated. Antifungal drug resistance was related to mutations of the azole target (Erg11p) with or without alterations of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. The antifungal drug resistance shown in vitro correlated very well with the results obtained in vivo using the model host Galleria mellonella. Using this panel of strains, the G. mellonella model system was validated as a simple, nonmammalian minihost model that can be used to study in vitro-in vivo correlation of antifungals in C. tropicalis. The development in C. tropicalis of antifungal drug resistance with different mechanisms during antifungal treatment has potential clinical impact and deserves specific prospective studies

Insights into Candida tropicalis nosocomial infections and virulence factors

Candida tropicalis is considered the first or the second non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species most frequently isolated from candidosis, mainly in patients admitted in intensive care units (ICUs), especially with cancer, requiring prolonged catheterization, or receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. The proportion of candiduria and candidemia caused by C. tropicalis varies widely with geographical area and patient group. Actually, in certain countries, C. tropicalis is more prevalent, even compared with C. albicans or other NCAC species. Although prophylactic treatments with fluconazole cause a decrease in the frequency of candidosis caused by C. tropicalis, it is increasingly showing a moderate level of fluconazole resistance. The propensity of C. tropicalis for dissemination and the high mortality associated with its infections might be strongly related to the potential of virulence factors exhibited by this species, such as adhesion to different host surfaces, biofilm formation, infection and dissemination, and enzymes secretion. Therefore, the aim of this review is to outline the present knowledge on all the above-mentioned C. tropicalis virulence traits.The authors acknowledge Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), Brazil, for supporting Melyssa Negri (BEX 4642/06-6) and Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, for supporting Sonia Silva (SFRH/BPD/71076/2010), and European Community fund FEDER, trough Program COMPETE under the Project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007025 (PTDC/AMB/68393/2006) is gratefully acknowledged