Urokinase-plasminogen activator from bovine plasma obtained by cellulose sulfate precipitation

Bovine plasma treated with cellulose sulfate produces multiple forms of plasminogen activators. The most fibrinolytic active fraction was isolated by preparative electrophoresis. Amidolytic and radial immunodiffusion tests with specific antibodies revealed that the most active plasminogen activator possesses properties similar to those of urokinase.Plasma bovino tratado com sulfato de celulose produz, em placas de fibrina, múltiplas formas de ativadores de plasminogênio. A fração fibrinoliticamente mais ativa foi isolada por eletroforese preparativa. Testes amidolíticos com substratos cromogênicos e testes de imunodifusão radial com anticorpos monoclonais revelaram que o ativador de plasminogênio isolado neste trabalho possui propriedades semelhantes às da uroquinase

Interação de alpha2 macroglobulina bovina com proteinases

The alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M) protease inhibitor was purified from bovine plasma. The alpha2M preparations at various purification steps were identified by immunodiffusion and crossed immunoelectrophoresis with anti-human alpha2 serum. Anti-bovine alpha2M serum was prepared for the quantitative determinations. The purest alpha2M preparation was obtained by affinity chromatography and used as primary standard in radial immunodiffusion. Alpha2M preparations were submitted to binding tests with p' - NPGB (p‘ - nitrophenyl-p-guanidinebenzoate HCL) titrated trypsin and plasmin. Alpha2M protected 35% of the esterolytic activity of trypsin and 50% of the amidolytic activity of plasmin.Alpha2 Macroglobulina, uma proteína inibidora de proteases, foi isolada do plasma bovino. O processo de purificação foi monitorado por imunodifusão e imunoeletroforese cruzada com soro anti alpha2M-humana. Para as determinações quantitativas foi preparado um soro anti alpha2M bovino. A preparação mais pura de alpha2M foi obtida por cromatografia de afinidade e usada como padrão primário na imunodifusão radial de Mancini. Preparações de alpha2M foram usadas em testes de ligação com tripsina e plasmina (tituladas com NPGB). Nos testes de ligação 50% de plasmina e 35% de tripsina foram "protegidas” pela alpha2M. Não foi possível determinar se houve ineficiência na ligação ou se a perda de atividade ocorreu por alterações na afinidade do complexo alpha2M-protease, em relação aos substratos usados

Ansiedade, depressão e stress em pessoas com artrite reumatóide

INTRODUÇÃO: As doenças reumáticas acarretam impacto físico, psicológico e social, sendo pertinente uma avaliação multidimensional da pessoa, o que justifica este estudo. Este teve como principal objetivo identificar a prevalência de ansiedade, depressão e stress nas pessoas com artrite reumatoide. MÉTODOS: O estudo descritivo e transversal, foi realizado com 80 participantes, 82.5% do sexo feminino, com uma média de idades de 58.16 anos. Aplicou-se o “Health Assessment Questionnaire” (Fries, 1978, validada por Santos, Reis, Rebelo, Dias, Rosa & Queiroz, 1996); “Escala de Ansiedade, Depressão e Stress” (P.F. Lovibond & S.H. Lovibond, 1995, adaptada por Ribeiro, Honrado e Leal, 2004). RESULTADOS: O valor médio de dor foi de 50mm e de atividade da doença 50,12mm, sendo mais elevados nas mulheres. A incapacidade funcional leve (60%), agrava-se com o aumento da dor, pior estado geral da doença e inatividade profissional. A ansiedade moderada/elevada afeta 37,5% da amostra e a sintomatologia depressiva grave 35%, sendo superior nas mulheres (♀40,9%;♂39,4%). O stress, apresentou-se elevado em 42,5% dos sujeitos. A ansiedade e a depressão são mais elevados nas mulheres (42.98%, 43.39%), com baixo rendimento (45.67%, 43.33%), com aumento da dor (p=.005), agravamento da doença (p=.000) e maior incapacidade funcional (p=.023, p=.002). O stress aumenta com o baixo rendimento (44.69%) e agravamento do estado geral (p=.005). CONCLUSÕES: A assistência de enfermagem a estas pessoas deve incluir intervenções dirigidas ao despiste e tratamento destes focos clínicos. Estas entidades nosológicas devem ainda ser consideradas no planeamento de ações educativas/formativas dos profissionais de saúde.Abstract INTRODUCTION: Rheumatic diseases carries a high physical, psychological and social impact, with relevant multi-dimensional assessment of psychosocial functioning of these rheumatic patients. These have in our population worse quality of life indicators, when compared with the general population, reasons for carrying out the present study. This aimed to identify the prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress in people with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: The study of quantitative observational nature, with descriptive analysis, cross-sectional was conducted with 80 participants, 82.5% were female, aged between 21 and 80 years, with an average of 58.16 years. Was applied "Health Assessment Questionnaire" (Fries, 197, validated by Santos Reis, Rebelo, Days, Pink & Queiroz, 1996); "Anxiety Scale, Depression and Stress" (PF Lovibond and Lovibond SH, 1995, adapted by Ribeiro, Honored and Leal, 2004). RESULTS: It was found that 50% of people with RA does biological medication, 65% for the first time. The mean value for pain was 50mm and 50,12mm for disease activity, being higher in women. The mild functional impairment, in 60% of participants, worsens with increasing pain, worse overall disease status and professional inactivity. Moderate and high anxiety was found in 37.5% of the sample and severe depressive symptoms in 35%, which are higher in women (♀40,9%; ♂39,4%). Stress presented high in 42.5% of subjects. The results suggest that anxiety and depression are higher in the females participants (42.98%, 43.39%) without practice of religion (73.5%, 80%), low monthly income (45.67%, 43.33%), with increased pain (p = .005, p = .005) increase of the overall condition of the disease (p = .000, p = .000) and superior functional impairment (p = .023, p = .002). Stress increases with the low income (44.69%) and worsening of health status (p = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Nursing care to these people should include interventions aimed at screening, referral and treatment of these clinical outbreaks. These nosological entities should also be considered when planning educational activities / training of future health professionals

Interação de alpha2 macroglobulina bovina com proteinases

Alpha2 Macroglobulina, uma proteína inibidora de proteases, foi isolada do plasma bovino. O processo de purificação foi monitorado por imunodifusão e imunoeletroforese cruzada com soro anti alpha2M-humana. Para as determinações quantitativas foi preparado um soro anti alpha2M bovino. A preparação mais pura de alpha2M foi obtida por cromatografia de afinidade e usada como padrão primário na imunodifusão radial de Mancini. Preparações de alpha2M foram usadas em testes de ligação com tripsina e plasmina (tituladas com NPGB). Nos testes de ligação 50% de plasmina e 35% de tripsina foram "protegidas” pela alpha2M. Não foi possível determinar se houve ineficiência na ligação ou se a perda de atividade ocorreu por alterações na afinidade do complexo alpha2M-protease, em relação aos substratos usados

The environmental cofactors in carcinogenesis in high risk HPV/HIV-positive women

The objective of the present study was to assess the presence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in HIV-infected women, with comparison between the Papanicolaou cytologic technique and the molecular PCR technique, as well as to determine the type of HPV, to measure cellular immunocompetence and to identify the presence of risk factors for the acquisition of HPV infection. Thirty HIV-infected women were selected. Vaginal and endocervical samples were collected from 27 of them. The smears were examined by 3 experienced cytologists to diagnose the presence of HPV by the Papanicolaou technique and the results were compared to HPV detection and typing by PCR. HPV-infected patients were interviewed in order to identify the presence of risk factors for the acquisition of the virus. Eight of the 27 patients analyzed (29%) presented HPV in endocervical samples submitted to PCR, 6 of them (75%) presented HPV involving a high risk of development of cervical cancer. For 5 of these patients, the cytologic diagnosis was not confirmed by PCR. When cellular immunocompetence was related to HPV infection, PCR revealed a diagnosis of HPV in 37.50% of the patients at intermediate risk for HPV infection and in 83.33% of the patients at high risk for HPV infection. These immunologically compromised HPV-infected patients are at higher risk of developing cervical neoplasia. We showed here that PCR is adequate for HPV detection and that, if only the Papanicolaou method is used for the follow-up of these patients, we will not provide good prevention of cervical cancer

Drospirenone and levonorgestrel in combination with either 30 or 20 mcg ethinylestradiol reduce soluble adhesion molecules in Brazilian women; cross-sectional study

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three contraceptive pills containing ethinylestradiol (EE) (20 or 30 mcg) in combination with drospirenone (DRSP) and levonorgestrel (LNG) on plasma concentration of adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule -1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 72 participants (18-30 years old) distributed into three groups that used oral contraceptives containing EE 20 or 30 mcg combined with DRSP 3 mg or EE 30 mcg/LNG 150 mcg for at least 6 months. The control group was comprised of nonusers of contraceptives. Soluble VCAM-1, soluble ICAM-1 and soluble E-selectin were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Compared to the control group, a significant decrease was found in VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 concentrations with use of DRSP/20 EE and LNG/30 EE. Conclusions: DRSP/20 EE and LNG/30 EE induce favorable changes in endothelial function. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.FAPESP, Brazil [07/58578-7]FAPESP (Brazil)Foundation for Research Support of Sao PauloFoundation for Research Support of Sao Paul

Effect of isoflavone extracts from Glycine max on human endothelial cell damage and on nitric oxide production

Objective: In this study, we determined the protective effect of isoflavones from Glycine max on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (ECV304) damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and on nitric oxide (NO) production. Methods: We studied the regulation of NO synthesis in cultured human endothelial cells by phytoestrogens contained in soy extracts in the presence or absence of ICI 182,780 or N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl esther and determined the protective effect of these isoflavones on ECV304 damage induced by H(2)O(2). Results: We show that soy extracts activate NO synthesis in endothelial cells and protect against cell damage. Conclusions: In conclusion, soy isoflavones markedly protect ECV304 cells against H(2)O(2) damage and promote NO synthesizing. Therefore, these isoflavones call potentially act as an NO promoter and as an antioxidant