Cytotoxicity of Dehydrocrotonin (a Nor-Clerodane from Croton cajucara) on Human Lymphocyte's

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Trans-Dehydrocrotonin, a 19-nor-clerodane, is the major norditerpene obtained from Croton cajucara, a Brazilian medicinal plant which presents important biological effects, such as antineoplastic and antiulcerogenic activities. In this work, we analyzed the effect of this sesquiterpene lactone on normal human lymphocytes. The cell viability was verified after treatment for 24 and 72 h with trans-dehydrocrotonin, in the presence and absence of phytohemagglutin (specific mitogen for this cell), through three end-points to assess cytotoxicity in vitro: MTT reduction (mitochondrial function), protein quantification (cell number) and phosphatase activity (cell metabolism). When the cells were treated with dehydrocrotonin in the presence of mitogen, no toxic effect was observed. Nevertheless, in the absence of mitogen, the IC50 was 450,mu M for MTT reduction and phosphatase activity. Moreover, in this condition, trans-dehydrocrotonin caused stimulation of protein content from 100 mu M. Our results suggest that phytohemagglutin protects human lymphocytes against the trans-dehydrocrotonin toxic effect.276914917Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Kinectic characterization and flavonoid effect on human lymphocyte protein tyrosyne phosphatase

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The aim of this work was to determine the kinetic properties and evaluate the effect of some flavonoids on human lymphocyte protein tyrosine phosphatase. Tyrosine-, serine- and threonine-phosphate were hydrolyzed by this phosphatase 60%, 20% and 10%, respectively. In the kinetic studies the enzymatic activity was determined by using p-nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) as substrate. The enzyme presented optimum pH around 5.0 and was inhibited by 100 mu M p-chloromercuribenzoate (pCMB) (80%), 10 mM fluoride (35%), 10 mM vanadate (100%), and 5mM Cu+2 (85%). The enzyme was also strongly inhibited by a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor cocktail, but was unaffected by okadaic acid. These results confirm that the major phosphatase activity in human lymphocytes is a protein tyrosine phosphatase. Among the bioflavonoids tested only fisetin showed an inhibitory effect in order of 80% on the enzymatic activity.273436439Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Prevalence of alpha-thalassemia 3.7 kb deletion in the adult population of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)alpha-Thalassemia, arising from a defect in alpha-globin chain synthesis, is often caused by deletions involving one or both of the alpha-genes on the same allele. With the aim of investigating the prevalence of alpha-thalassemia 3.7 kb deletion in the adult population of Rio Grande do Norte, 713 unrelated individuals, between 18 and 59 years-of-age, were analyzed. Red blood cell indices were electronically determined, and A(2) and F hemoglobins evaluated by HPLC. PCR was applied to the molecular investigation of alpha-thalassemia 3.7 kb deletion. Eighty (11.2%) of the 713 individuals investigated presented alpha-thalassemia, of which 79 (11.1%) were heterozygous (-alpha(3.7)/alpha alpha) deletions and 1 (0.1%) homozygous (-alpha(3.7)/-alpha(3.7)). Ethnically, heterozygous deletions were higher (24.8%) in Afro-Brazilians. Comparison of hematological parameters between individuals with normal genotype and those with heterozygous alpha(+)-thalassemia showed a statistically significant difference in the number of erythrocytes (p < 0.001), MCV (p < 0.001), MCH (p < 0.001) and Hb A(2) (p = 0.007). This study is one of the first dedicated to investigating alpha-thalassemia 3.7 kb deletion in the population of the State Rio Grande do Norte state. Results obtained demonstrate the importance of investigating this condition in order to elucidate the causes of microcytosis and hypochromia.353594598Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundacao de Apoio a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (FAPERN/PPSUS III) [011/2009]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)CNPq [475855/2006-0]Fundacao de Apoio a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (FAPERN/PPSUS III) [011/2009]FAPESP [2008/57441-0

Frequency of metabolic syndrome and associated factors in institutionalized elderly individuals

Marcia Cristina Sales,1 Larissa Pra&ccedil;a Oliveira,2 Laura Camila Pereira Liberalino,3 Aline Tuane Oliveira Cunha,2 Sara Estefani Soares Sousa,4 Telma Maria Araujo Moura Lemos,5 Severina Carla Vieira Cunha Lima,6 Kenio Costa Lima,7 Karine Cavalcanti Mauricio Sena-Evangelista,6 Lucia Fatima Campos Pedrosa61Postgraduate Program of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 2School of Nutrition, Potiguar University (Laureate International Universities), Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 3Department of Medicine, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 4Postgraduate Program of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 5Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 6Department of Nutrition, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil; 7Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, BrazilIntroduction: Population aging generally accompanies an increase in chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MS). Nursing homes have provided a solution for the decreased ability of elderly individuals for self-care and familial difficulties in meeting the health care needs of elderly individuals.Purpose: The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of MS and its associated factors in elderly individuals living in nursing homes.Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 202 institutionalized elderly individuals. MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program &ndash; Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors were assessed to verify their association with MS by logistic regression.Results: The MS frequency was 29.2%. The most frequent MS components were low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (63.9%) and abdominal obesity (42.7%). Factors associated with MS were female sex (prevalence ratio [PR]=2.16; 95% CI, 1.04&ndash;4.49), age-adjusted institutionalization time &gt;50% (PR=2.38, 95% CI, 1.46&ndash;3.88), and high concentrations of interleukin-6 (PR=2.01; 95% CI, 1.21&ndash;3.32) and tumor necrosis factor-&alpha; (PR=1.70; 95% CI, 1.05&ndash;2.77). Moreover, it was verified that the likelihood of having MS was 1.85-fold higher (95% CI, 1.11&ndash;3.10) in the group with a diet characterized by very high energy, very low fat, and high dietary fiber.Conclusion: The occurrence of MS in institutionalized elderly individuals was higher in females, and individuals with longer age-adjusted institutionalization time, higher concentrations of immunologic biomarkers, and a dietary intake consisting of higher energy and fiber and lower total fat. The results of the study are useful for guiding health care programs aimed at institutionalized elderly individuals.Keywords: chronic noncommunicable diseases, aging, nursing home, institutionalizatio