Expression of myo-inositol cotransporters in the sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglia in experimental diabetes

The transport of myo-inositol is the main mechanism for the maintenance of its high intracellular levels. We aimed to measure the mRNA and protein levels of myo-inositol cotransporters in the sciatic nerve (SN) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) during experimental diabetes. Streptozotocin-induced (STZ; 4, 8, and 12 weeks; 65 mg/kg; ip) diabetic rats (DB) and age-matched euglycemic (E) rats were used for the analysis of mRNA and protein levels of sodium myo-inositol cotransporters 1, 2 (SMIT1, SMIT2) or H⁺/myo-inositol cotransporter (HMIT). There was a significant reduction in the mRNA levels for SMIT1 in the SN and DRG (by 36.9 and 31.0%) in the 4-week DB (DB4) group compared to the E group. SMIT2 was not expressed in SN. The mRNA level for SMIT2 was up-regulated only in the DRG in the DB4 group. On the other hand, the protein level of SMIT1 decreased by 42.5, 41.3, and 44.8% in the SN after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of diabetes, respectively. In addition, there was a decrease of 64.3 and 58.0% of HMIT in membrane and cytosolic fractions, respectively, in the SN of the DB4 group. In the DRG, there was an increase of 230 and 86.3% for SMIT1 and HMIT, respectively, in the DB12 group. The levels of the main inositol transporters, SMIT1 and HMIT, were greatly reduced in the SN but not in the DRG. SMIT-1 was selectively reduced in the sciatic nerve during experimental STZ-induced diabetes.

Relaxant effect of a metal-based drug in human corpora cavernosa and its mechanism of action

We studied the mechanisms involved in the human corpora cavernosa (HCC) relaxation induced by a new metal-based nitric oxide (NO) donor, the ruthenium complex cis-[Ru(bpy)2Imn(NO)](+3) (FOR0811). FOR0811 produced relaxation in phenylephrine (PE)-precontracted HCC with a maximal response that achieved 112.9 ± 10.6%. There was no difference between the maximal relaxation induced by FOR0811 when compared with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (106.8 ± 7.3%), BAY41-2272 (107.6 ± 4.1%) or vardenafil (103.4 ± 3.8%), however, FOR0811 was less potent than SNP and vardenafil. L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a NO synthase inhibitor, had no effect in the concentration-response curve elicited by FOR0811. 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a heme-site inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) was able to either block or reverse the relaxation induced by FOR0811. On the other hand, the relaxation induced by FOR0811 was not affected by glibenclamide, a blocker of ATP-sensitive potassium channels. FOR0811 (10 μM) was able to increase cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels in corpora cavernosa strips. FOR0811 completely relaxes HCC by a sGC-cGMP-dependent mechanism and can be a lead compound in the development of new stable NO donors.

Efficacy and Safety of 2% and 4% Articaine for Lower Third Molar Surgery

This double-blind crossover randomized clinical trial compared the efficacy of 2 concentrations of articaine, 2% (A2) and 4% (A4), with 1:200,000 epinephrine, for lower third molar removal. During 2 separate appointments with either A2 or A4, both similarly positioned lower third molars in 46 volunteers were extracted. The following were evaluated: onset and duration of anesthetic action on soft tissues, intraoperative bleeding, hemodynamic parameters, postoperative analgesia, and mouth opening and wound healing during the 7th postoperative day, along with the incidence, type, and severity of adverse reactions. Nearly identical volumes of both anesthetic solutions were used for each appointment: 3.4 ± 0.9 mL ≈ 68 mg of articaine (A2) and 3.3 ± 0.8 mL ≈ 132 mg of articaine (A4). Statistical analysis indicated no differences in onset or duration of anesthetic action on soft tissues or duration of postoperative analgesia evoked by A2 and A4 anesthetic solutions (P > 0.05). The surgeon's rating of intraoperative bleeding was considered minimal throughout all surgery with both anesthetic solutions. While transient changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation were observed, these factors were clinically insignificant and were uninfluenced by articaine concentration (P > 0.05). No systemic or local adverse reactions were observed in the preoperative and postoperative periods due to A2 or A4, but 1 case of bilateral paresthesia was observed. There were no significant differences between preoperative and postoperative (7th day) values of mouth opening and wound healing whether volunteers received A2 or A4 (P > 0.05). In conclusion, both A2 and A4, administered in equal volumes, were effective and safe during lower third molar surgery, and no significant differences were found between their efficacy and safety (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02457325).

Aerobic training prevents dexamethasone-induced peripheral insulin resistance

This study investigated how proteins of the insulin signaling cascade could modulate insulin resistance after dexamethasone (Dexa) treatment and aerobic training. Rats were distributed into 4 groups: sedentary control (SC), sedentary+Dexa (SD), trained control (TC), and trained+Dexa (TD), and underwent aerobic training for 70 days or remained sedentary. Dexa was administered during the last 10 days (1 mg · kg(-1) per day i. p.). After 70 days, an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (ipGTT) was performed. Protein levels of IRS-1, AKT, and PKC-α in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle were identified using Western blots. Dexa treatment increased blood glucose and the area under the curve (AUC) of ipGTT. Training attenuated the hyperglycemia and the AUC induced by Dexa. Dexa reduced IRS-1 (- 16%) and AKT (- 43%) protein level with no changes in PKC-α levels. Moreover, these effects on IRS-1 and AKT protein level were prevented in trained animals. These results show for the first time that aerobic exercise prevented reductions of IRS-1 and AKT level induced by Dexa in the TA muscle, suggesting that aerobic exercise is a good strategy to prevent Dexa-induced peripheral insulin resistance.

Predictive equations overestimate the resting metabolic rate in postmenopausal women

The resting energetic dispenses on postmenopausal stage should be well known in order to elaborate obesity prevention programs.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the resting metabolic rate (RMR) measured by indirect calorimetry (RMRmeasured) with predictive equations (RMRestimated) and verify which preexisting equation is more indicated for this population, in inactive, postmenopausal women.

DESIGN

43 postmenopausal women volunteered for the present study.

MEASUREMENTS

RMRestimated value was achieved by indirect calorimetry. The predictive equations used were: Harris-Benedict equation (HB), Henry e Ree (HR), Mifflin-St Jeor equation (MSJ), World Health Organization equation (WHO) and Female Brazilian Population (FBP). Body composition was obtained through skinfolds method.

RESULTS

All equations showed significant difference values for kcal/day (p<0.00001) (HB 1313.07±73.46; HR 1310.95±81.41; MSJ 1207.93±93.17; WHO 1375.73±61.01 and FBP 1250.05±73.54 kcal/day) in relation to RMRestimated (1063.79±157.82). The WHO equation was the one which most overestimated the RMR values with a difference of more than 300 kcal/day.

CONCLUSION

None of the equations to approach, in this study showed precision in the estimative of RMR, all prediction equations overestimated RMR values in Brazilians' postmenopausal women, although the MSJ predictive equation showed the greater approximation of RMRmeasured for this population.

Towards a better understanding of Ipomoea asarifolia toxicity: evidence of the involvement of a leaf lectin

Natural intoxication of livestock by ingestion of Ipomoea asarifolia leaves has been reported to occur widely in Brazil. Previous studies carried out by our research group provided strong evidence that a lectin could be involved with the toxic properties of I. asarifolia. To reinforce this hypothesis, a lectin-enriched fraction (LEF) was isolated from I. asarifolia leaves and its toxic effects were assessed. Leaves of I. asarifolia were excised from plants growing widely in the field, mechanically wounded and maintained in a chamber at 25 ± 3 °C for 72h in the dark, under near 100% relative humidity. The leaf proteins were extracted, ammonium sulfate precipitated, chromatographed on DEAE-cellulose and Phenyl-Sepharose to produce LEF that under SDS-PAGE showed a molecular mass of 44.0 kDa and after N-terminal amino acid analysis a primary sequence composed of AGYTPVLDIGAEVLAAGEPY. The in vivo toxicity of LEF assessed by intraorbital injection in mice showed induced severe uncoordinated movements without death. LEF reduced the muscular contraction in a dose depend way and at 29.8 μg/mL (CE(50)) it produces 50% inhibition of contraction, suggesting that LEF blunts autonomic neurotransmission. Isolated rat kidneys were perfused with LEF and no effects on the perfusion pressure or renal vascular resistance were observed, but urinary flow and glomerular filtration rate increased. Moreover, the percentage of tubular transport of Na(+), K(+) and Cl(-) decreased. Histological examination of the kidneys perfused with LEF exhibited little alterations. These toxic effects observed above were concomitant with the increase of LEF hemagglutination activity, which strongly suggest that one of the toxic principles of I. asarifolia is a lectin present in its leaves.

Chronic treatment with D-chiro-inositol prevents autonomic and somatic neuropathy in STZ-induced diabetic mice

AIM

D-chiro-inositol (DCI) has been shown to prevent and reverse endothelial dysfunction in diabetic rats and rabbits. The present study evaluates the preventive effect of DCI on experimental diabetic neuropathy (DN).

METHODS

Streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic mice were treated by oral gavage for 60 days with DCI (20 mg/kg/12 h) or saline (NaCl 0.9%; 0.1 ml/10 g/12 h; Diab) and compared with euglycaemic groups treated with saline (0.1 ml/10 g/12 h; Eugly). We compared the response of the isolated sciatic nerve, corpora cavernosa or vas deferens to electrical stimulation.

RESULTS

The electrically evoked compound action potential of the sciatic nerve was greatly blunted by diabetes. The peak-to-peak amplitude (PPA) was decreased from 3.24 ± 0.7 to 0.9 ± 0.2 mV (p < 0.05), the conduction velocity (CV) of the first component was reduced from 46.78 ± 4.5 to 26.69 ± 3.8 ms (p < 0.05) and chronaxy was increased from 60.43 ± 1.9 to 69.67 ± 1.4 ms (p < 0.05). These parameters were improved in nerves from DCI-treated mice (p < 0.05). PPA in the DCI group was 5.79 ± 0.8 mV (vs. 0.9 ± 0.2 mV-Diab; p < 0.05) and CV was 45.91 ± 3.6 ms (vs. 26.69 ± 3.8 ms-Diab; p < 0.05). Maximal relaxation of the corpus cavernosum evoked by electrical stimulation (2-64 Hz) in the Diab group was 36.4 ± 3.8% compared to 65.4 ± 2.8% in Eugly and 59.3 ± 5.5% in the DCI group (p < 0.05). Maximal contraction obtained in the vas deferens was 38.0 ± 9.2% in Eugly and 11.5 ± 2.6% in Diab (decrease of 69.7%; p < 0.05), compared to 25.2 ± 2.3% in the DCI group (p < 0.05 vs. diabetic). Electron microscopy of the sciatic nerves showed prevention of neuronal damage.

CONCLUSIONS

DCI has a neuroprotective action in both autonomic and somatic nerves in STZ-induced DN.

High prevalence of oral human papillomavirus infection in Fanconi's anemia patients

BACKGROUND

Fanconi's anemia (FA) is a rare recessive genetic disorder characterized by bone marrow failure, developmental and congenital abnormalities, which frequently evolves to aplastic anemia and neoplasias, primarily acute leukemia and head-neck carcinomas. Risk of malignancies increases after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in FA carcinogenesis have been proposed.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate prevalence of oral HPV in FA patients without oral malignant lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After oral examination, 76 subjects without detectable oral malignant lesions were included and classified in four groups: 20 FA submitted to HSCT (I), 22 FA not submitted to HSCT (II), 18 severe aplastic anemia (SAA) submitted to HSCT (III) and 16 healthy subjects (IV). Liquid-based cytology sampling, HPV screening by polymerase chain reaction and genotyping by reverse hybridization were performed.

RESULTS

The HPV detection rates were: group I 35%, group II 27.3%, group III 38% and group IV 6.25%. Prevalence of high risk HPV types, mainly HPV16, was detected. Compared with control group, suggestions for increased likelihood of being HPV infected in SAA (OR = 9.55, 95% CI: 1.01-125.41) and FA patients submitted to HSCT (OR = 8.08, 0.83-72.29) emerged.

CONCLUSION

Patients without oral malignant lesions submitted to HSCT, have high prevalence of oral HPV. HPV screening and close follow up should be considered in these patients.

Comparison of oral versus sublingual piroxicam during postoperative pain management after lower third molar extraction

In this study, 53 patients received piroxicam, administered orally or sublingually, after undergoing removal of symmetrically positioned lower third molars, during two separate appointments. This study used a randomized, blind, cross-over protocol. Objective and subjective parameters were recorded for comparison of postoperative results for 7 days after surgery. Patients treated with oral or sublingual piroxicam reported low postoperative pain scores. The patients who received piroxicam orally took a similar average amount of analgesic rescue medication compared with patients who received piroxicam sublingually (p>0.05). Patients exhibited similar values for mouth opening measured just before surgery and immediately following suture removal 7 days later (p>0.05), and showed no significant differences between routes of piroxicam administration for swelling control during the second or seventh postoperative days (p>0.05). In summary, pain, trismus and swelling after lower third molar extraction, independent of surgical difficulty, could be controlled by piroxicam 20mg administered orally or sublingually and no significant differences were observed between the route of delivery used in this study.

SHED differentiate into functional odontoblasts and endothelium

Studies on mechanisms underlying the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells are critical for the understanding of the biology of odontogenesis and for dental tissue engineering. Here, we tested the hypothesis that stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) differentiate into functional odontoblasts and endothelial cells. SHED were seeded in tooth slice/scaffolds and implanted subcutaneously into immunodeficient mice. SHED differentiated into functional odontoblasts that generated tubular dentin, as determined by tetracycline staining and confocal microscopy. These cells also differentiated into vascular endothelial cells, as determined by beta-galactosidase staining of LacZ-tagged SHED. In vitro, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced SHED to express VEGFR2, CD31, and VE-Cadherin (markers of endothelium) and to organize into capillary-like sprouts. VEGF induced ERK and AKT phosphorylation (indicative of differentiation), while inhibiting phosphorylation of STAT3 (indicative of 'stemness'). Collectively, this work demonstrates that SHED can differentiate into angiogenic endothelial cells and odontoblasts capable of generating tubular dentin.

Pulpotomy of human primary molars with MTA and Portland cement: a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This study compared the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Portland cement (PC) as pulp dressing agents in carious primary teeth.

METHODOLOGY

Thirty carious primary mandibular molars of children aged 5-9 years old were randomly assigned to MTA or PC groups, and treated by a conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth were restored with resin modified glass ionomer cement. Clinical and radiographic successes and failures were recorded at 6, 12, 18 and 24-month follow-up.

RESULTS

All pulpotomised teeth were clinically and radiographically successful at all follow-up appointments. Six out of 15 teeth in the PC group and five out of 14 teeth in the MTA group exfoliated throughout the follow-up period. No statistically significant difference regarding dentine bridge formation was found between both groups throughout the follow-up period. As far as pulp canal obliteration is concerned, a statistically significant difference was detected at 6-month follow-up (p <0.05), since the beginning of mineralised material deposition could be radiographically detected in 100% and 57.14% of the teeth treated with PC and MTA, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

PC may serve as an effective and less expensive MTA substitute in primary molar pulpotomies. Further studies and longer follow-up assessments are needed.

Characterization of a local renin-angiotensin system in rat gingival tissue

BACKGROUND

The systemic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) promotes the plasmatic production of angiotensin (Ang) II, which acts through interaction with specific receptors. There is growing evidence that local systems in various tissues and organs are capable of generating angiotensins independently of circulating RAS. The aims of this study were to investigate the expression and localization of RAS components in rat gingival tissue and evaluate the in vitro production of Ang II and other peptides catalyzed by rat gingival tissue homogenates incubated with different Ang II precursors.

METHODS

Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assessed mRNA expression. Immunohistochemical analysis aimed to detect and localize renin. A standardized fluorimetric method with tripeptide hippuryl-histidyl-leucine was used to measure tissue angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, whereas high performance liquid chromatography showed products formed after the incubation of tissue homogenates with Ang I or tetradecapeptide renin substrate (TDP).

RESULTS

mRNA for renin, angiotensinogen, ACE, and Ang II receptors (AT(1a), AT(1b), and AT(2)) was detected in gingival tissue; cultured gingival fibroblasts expressed renin, angiotensinogen, and AT(1a) receptor. Renin was present in the vascular endothelium and was intensely expressed in the epithelial basal layer of periodontally affected gingival tissue. ACE activity was detected (4.95 +/- 0.89 nmol histidyl-leucine/g/minute). When Ang I was used as substrate, Ang 1-9 (0.576 +/- 0.128 nmol/mg/minute), Ang II (0.066 +/- 0.008 nmol/mg/minute), and Ang 1-7 (0.111 +/- 0.017 nmol/mg/minute) were formed, whereas these same peptides (0.139 +/- 0.031, 0.206 +/- 0.046, and 0.039 +/- 0.007 nmol/mg/minute, respectively) and Ang I (0.973 +/- 0.139 nmol/mg/minute) were formed when TDP was the substrate.

CONCLUSION

Local RAS exists in rat gingival tissue and is capable of generating Ang II and other vasoactive peptides in vitro.

The effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate, calcium hydroxide and formocresol for pulpotomies in primary teeth

AIM

To compare the effectiveness of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), calcium hydroxide (CH) and formocresol (FC) as pulp dressing agents in carious primary teeth.

METHODOLOGY

Forty-five primary mandibular molars with dental caries in 23 children [AUTHOR QUERY: How many children?] between 5 and 9 years old were treated by a conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth were randomly assigned to the experimental (CH or MTA) or control (FC) groups. After coronal pulp removal and haemostasis, remaining pulp tissue was covered with MTA paste or CH powder in the experimental groups. In the control group, diluted FC was placed with a cotton pellet over the pulp tissue for 5 min and removed; the pulp tissue was then covered with zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) paste. All teeth were restored with reinforced ZOE base and resin modified glass-ionomer cement. Clinical and radiographic successes and failures were recorded at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 month follow-up.

RESULTS

Forty-three teeth were available for follow-up. In the FC and MTA groups, 100% of the available teeth were clinically and radiographically successful at all follow-up appointments; dentine bridge formation could be detected in 29% of the teeth treated with MTA. In the CH group, 64% of the teeth presented clinical and radiographic failures detected throughout the follow-up period, and internal resorption was a frequent radiographic finding.

CONCLUSIONS

Mineral trioxide aggregate was superior to CH and equally as effective as FC as a pulpotomy dressing in primary mandibular molars. Internal resorption was the most common radiographic finding up to 24 month after pulpotomies performed with CH.

Apnoea-hypopnoea and mandibular retrusion as uncommon findings associated with Proteus syndrome

The aetiology of Proteus syndrome (PS) is yet unclear. This disease includes partial gigantism of the hands and/or feet, nevi, hemihypertrophy due to overgrowth of long bones, subcutaneous tumours, macrocephaly, cranial hyperostosis, and pulmonary and renal abnormalities. This case report is about a 17-year-old boy with two uncommon findings associated with PS: apnoea-hypopnoea and mandibular retrusion. A multidisciplinary team was important to provide professional care for this patient. Dentists and physicians proposed an adjusted treatment plan. Maxillary disjunction was achieved with a combination of orthodontic treatment and surgical procedure. This represented the initial care for malocclusion treatment and also the preparation for orthognathic surgery. The oral maxillofacial surgeon and the otorhinolaryngologist proposed this approach in an attempt to improve pharynx airflow. The patient has been followed for almost 3 years.

Mineral trioxide aggregate pulpotomy of a primary second molar in a patient with agenesis of the permanent successor

AIM

To describe a pulpotomy with mineral trioxide aggregate in a primary second molar with no permanent successor.

SUMMARY

Coronal pulpotomy was performed on a carious primary molar with no permanent successor in a 7-year-old child. Follow-up examinations 24 months later revealed that the treatment was successful in preserving the tooth and the vitality of its pulp.

KEY LEARNING POINT

Mineral trioxide aggregate might be considered as an alternative wound dressing for pulpotomy in primary molars, preserving pulp vitality and prolonging the useful life of the tooth.

The selective and non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors valdecoxib and piroxicam induce the same postoperative analgesia and control of trismus and swelling after lower third molar removal

We compared the clinical efficacy of orally administered valdecoxib and piroxicam for the prevention of pain, trismus and swelling after removal of horizontally and totally intrabony impacted lower third molars. Twenty-five patients were scheduled to undergo removal of symmetrically positioned lower third molars in two separate appointments. Valdecoxib (40 mg) or piroxicam (20 mg) was administered in a double-blind, randomized and crossed manner for 4 days after the surgical procedures. Objective and subjective parameters were recorded for comparison of postoperative courses. Both agents were effective for postoperative pain relief (N = 19). There was a similar mouth opening at suture removal compared with the preoperative values (86.14 +/- 4.36 and 93.12 +/- 3.70% of the initial measure for valdecoxib and piroxicam, respectively; ANOVA). There was no significant difference regarding the total amount of rescue medication taken by the patients treated with valdecoxib or piroxicam (173.08 +/- 91.21 and 461.54 +/- 199.85 mg, respectively; Wilcoxon test). There were no significant differences concerning the swelling observed on the second postoperative day compared to baseline measures (6.15 +/- 1.84 and 8.46 +/- 2.04 mm for valdecoxib and piroxicam, respectively; ANOVA) or on the seventh postoperative day (1.69 +/- 1.61 and 2.23 +/- 2.09 mm for valdecoxib and piroxicam, respectively; ANOVA). The cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor valdecoxib is as effective as the non-selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor piroxicam for pain, trismus and swelling control after removal of horizontally and totally intrabony impacted lower third molars.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory dose–response relationship of 7.5 and 15mg meloxicam after lower third molar removal: a double-blind, randomized, crossover study

Fifty patients were scheduled to undergo removal of symmetrically positioned lower third molars in two separate appointments. Meloxicam 7.5 or 15 mg was once daily administered in a double-blind, randomized and crossover manner after the surgery for 4 days. Objective and subjective parameters were recorded for comparison of postoperative courses. Patients treated with 7.5mg meloxicam who underwent osteotomy reported higher pain scores at 1.5, 3, 4, 10, 12 and 16 h (P<0.05) and ingested a greater amount of rescue analgesic medication (P<0.05) than those who did not require osteotomy. A higher percentage of patients who underwent osteotomy medicated with 7.5mg meloxicam needed rescue medication as compared to those who did not require osteotomy (P<0.05). There was a similar mouth opening at suture removal compared with preoperative values for both doses (P>0.05). There were no significant differences concerning swelling observed on the 2nd or 7th postoperative days in comparison with baseline (P>0.05) between the two doses. Pain, trismus and swelling after lower third molar removal not requiring osteotomy can be successfully controlled by a dose regimen of 7.5mg meloxicam once daily. For more aggressive extractions 15 mg meloxicam is advisable.

Long-term kidney transplant outcomes in patients receiving oil-based or microemulsion formulations of cyclosporine

In the last 20 years long-term experience with cyclosporine use in kidney transplantation has increased, allowing a more precise identification of its benefits.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of 1619 kidney transplants that received cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy. Patients were divided into three groups (1) oil-based cyclosporine (SIM) with trough monitoring (GI, n=617); (2) microemulsion formulation (NEO) with trough monitoring (GII, n=962); and (3) NEO with C2 monitoring (GIII, n=40). Information was obtained on transplant demography; adjunctive immunosuppressive agent; living (LD) versus cadaveric (CAD) recipients; delayed graft function; any treated acute rejection; graft function at 3, 6, and 12 months, patient and graft survival, as well as causes of graft loss and death.

RESULTS

At 15 years follow-up, patient and graft survival were 67.5% and 41.6%, being superior, among LD versus CAD recipients (patient: 78.7% vs 57.7%, P<.001; graft: 56.4% vs 30.5%, P<.001). In LD (54% vs 32%, P<.001) and CAD (69% vs 55%, P<.001) NEO reduced the incidence of AR and improved 8-year patient (LD: 81.8% vs 94.7%; CAD: 66.4 vs 79.9%, P<.01) and graft survival (LD: 58.3 vs. 80%; CAD: 40.2% vs. 59.5%, P<.01), compared to SIM. Overall 8-year graft survival was inferior among patients with increased 1-year creatinine values (< or =1.5, 1.6-2.5 and >2.5 mg/dL) level (74% vs 63.9% vs 22.4%, P<.001) or change in Cr (< or =0.1, 0.2-0.4, >0.5 mg/dL) level (73.1% vs 61.9% vs 37.2%, P<.001). In patients at the same level of graft function, those receiving NEO showed superior 8-year patient and graft survival compared with SIM.

CONCLUSION

Compared to SIM, NEO reduced the incidence of acute rejection and produced superior long-term patient and graft survival.

Antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of Croton nepetaefolius on mice

Croton nepetaefolius Baill., is an aromatic plant native to the northeast of Brazil where it is extensively used in folk medicine as a sedative, orexigen and antispasmodic agent. In the present study the antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of C. nepetaefolius (EOCn), administered orally, were evaluated in male Swiss mice (20-25 g). In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, EOCn (100 and 300 mg/kg; N = 14 and N = 12, respectively) was effective at the highest dose. In the hot-plate test, EOCn at 30 and 300 mg/kg, but not at 3 mg/kg, significantly increased the latency at all observation times up to the 180th min (N = 12 for each dose). In the formalin test, EOCn significantly reduced paw licking in the second phase of the test at 100 mg/kg (N = 12), but decreased it in both phases at 300 mg/kg (N = 12). At 30 mg/kg, the effect of EOCn did not differ from control values in either phase of the formalin test (N = 6). Pretreatment with naloxone (5 mg/kg, ip) significantly reversed the analgesic effect of morphine (5 mg/kg, sc) on both phases, but not that of EOCn at 300 mg/kg (N = 6) on both phases of the formalin test. The data show that orally administered EOCn promotes a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect whose mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri in mice

Croton zehntneri is an aromatic plant native to Northeastern Brazil, where it is often used in folk medicine. In the present study the antinociceptive effects of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri (EOCz) were evaluated in mice. EOCz administered orally at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg reduced paw licking time in the second phase of the formalin test from the control value of 41.61 +/- 8.62 to 12.01 +/- 7.97 and 6.57 +/- 3.42 s, respectively. During the first phase of the formalin test only 300 mg/kg induced a significant alteration (from 58.2 +/- 7.02, control, to 28.7 +/- 4.73 s). The number of contortions in response to intraperitoneal injections of acetic acid did not differ significantly between controls (80.6 +/- 9.01) and experimental (300 mg/kg body weight) animals (89.1 +/- 9.53% of the control numbers; P > or =0.05, Student t-test). In the hot-plate test, EOCz at doses > or =100 mg/kg significantly increased the latency time with respect to controls (11.2 +/- 0.80). At 100 and 300 mg/kg this increase persisted for 180 and 240 min, respectively. The data show that EOCz is effective as an antinociceptive agent.

The amino-acid sequence of the glucose/mannose-specific lectin isolated from Parkia platycephala seeds reveals three tandemly arranged jacalin-related domains

A mannose/glucose-specific lectin was isolated from seeds of Parkia platycephala, the most primitive subfamily of Leguminosae plants. The molecular mass of the purified lectin determined by mass spectrometry was 47 946 +/- 6 Da (by electrospray ionization) and 47 951 +/- 9 Da (by matrix-assisted laser-desoption ionization). The apparent molecular mass of the lectin in solutions of pH in the range 4.5-8.5 determined by analytical ultracentrifugation equilibrium sedimentation was 94 +/- 3 kDa, showing that the protein behaved as a non-pH-dependent dimer. The amino-acid sequence of the Parkia lectin was determined by Edman degradation of overlapping peptides. This is the first report of the primary structure of a Mimosoideae lectin. The protein contained a blocked N-terminus and a single, nonglycosylated polypeptide chain composed of three tandemly arranged homologous domains. Each of these domains shares sequence similarity with jacalin-related lectin monomers from Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Moraceae, Musaceae, Gramineae, and Fagaceae plant families. Based on this homology, we predict that each Parkia lectin repeat may display a beta prism fold similar to that observed in the crystal structure of the lectin from Helianthus tuberosus. The P. platycephala lectin also shows sequence similarity with stress- and pathogen-upregulated defence genes of a number of different plants, suggesting a common ancestry for jacalin-related lectins and inducible defence proteins.

Effect of captopril on neurally induced contraction and relaxation of mesenteric arteries of renal hypertensive rats

The effect of captopril treatment on neurally induced vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses was examined in the isolated mesenteric arterial bed from normotensive and one-kidney, one clip hypertensive (1K1C) rats. In isolated mesenteric beds, electrical field stimulation (EFS) of perivascular nerves at basal tone induced a frequency-dependent increase in perfusion pressure that was greater in preparations from hypertensive rats compared with those from normotensive rats. Captopril treatment was associated with a decrease in vasoconstrictor responses in the hypertensive group compared with its non-treated control. Responses to norepinephrine (320 ng) were greater in hypertensive than normotensive groups; captopril reduced this response only in the hypertensive group. In preconstricted mesenteric arteries perfused with solutions containing guanethidine (5 microM) and atropine (1 microM), EFS elicited a frequency-dependent decrease in perfusion pressure that was abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 microM). Vasodilator responses to EFS were not affected by captopril treatment, although they were smaller in the hypertensive group. Acetylcholine (10 ng) induced similar decreases in perfusion pressure of normotensive and 1K1C groups; captopril did not influence these responses. These results indicate that captopril treatment does not affect the reduced neurogenic vasodilation but normalizes the augmented sympathetic-mediated vasoconstrictor responses of mesenteric resistance vessels of chronic 1K1C hypertensive rats.

Thermodynamic binding studies of lectins from the diocleinae subtribe to deoxy analogs of the core trimannoside of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides

Lectins from seven different species of the Diocleinae subtribe have been recently isolated and characterized in terms of their carbohydrate binding specificities (Dam, T. K., Cavada, B. S., Grangeiro, T. B., Santos, C. F., de Sousa, F. A. M., Oscarson, S., and Brewer, C. F. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 12082-12088). The lectins included those from Canavalia brasiliensis, Cratylia floribunda, Dioclea rostrata, Dioclea virgata, Dioclea violacea, and Dioclea guianensis. All of the lectins exhibited specificity for Man and Glc residues, but much higher affinities for the branched chain trimannoside, 3,6-di-O-(alpha-d-mannopyranosyl)-d-mannose, which is found in the core region of all asparagine-linked carbohydrates. In the present study, isothermal titration microcalorimetry is used to determine the binding thermodynamics of the above lectins, including a new lectin from Canavalia grandiflora, to a complete series of monodeoxy analogs of the core trimannoside. From losses in the affinity constants and enthalpies of binding of certain deoxy analogs, assignments are made of the hydroxyl epitopes on the trimannoside that are involved in binding to the lectins. The pattern of binding of the deoxy analogs is similar for all seven lectins, and similar to that of concanavalin A which is also a member of the Diocleinae subtribe. However, differences in the magnitude of the thermodynamic binding parameters of the lectins are observed, even though the lectins possess conserved contact residues in many cases, and highly conserved primary sequences. The results indicate that non-contact residues in the lectins, even those distant from the binding sites, modulate their thermodynamic binding parameters.

Purification and characterization of a lectin from seeds of Vatairea macrocarpa Duke

A lectin from Vatairea macrocarpa Duke seeds (VML) was isolated using affinity chromatography on a guar gum column. The lectin, a glycoprotein without erythrocyte specificity, displays specificity to galactose and some derivatives. On SDS-polyacrylamide gels, V. macrocarpa seed lectin is composed of two major high-Mr bands of 34 and 32 kDa and two minor low-Mr bands of 22 and 13 kDa. N-Terminal sequencing showed that the 34, 32, and 13 kDa products possess identical N-terminal sequence, which display best similarity with the N-terminal portion of Robinia pseudoacacia lectins (RPL). On the other hand, the N-terminal sequence of the 22 kDa band can be aligned with an internal sequence of RPL starting at residue 149 of the cDNA-derived sequence. These data indicate that, like other leguminous lectins, VML is made up of a mixture of one-chain 30-35 kDa glycoforms and of 22 and 13 kDa endogenous C- and N-terminal fragments. Size-exclusion chromatography indicated that, at neutral pH, VML is predominantly a dimeric (70 kDa) protein, although tetramers (115 kDa) and larger aggregates (300 kDa) were also present.

Diocleinae lectins are a group of proteins with conserved binding sites for the core trimannoside of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides and differential specificities for complex carbohydrates

The seed lectin from Dioclea grandiflora and jack bean lectin concanavalin A (ConA) are both members of the Diocleinae subtribe of Leguminosae lectins. Both lectins have recently been shown to possess enhanced affinities and extended binding sites for the trisaccharide, 3,6-di-O-(alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-D-mannose, which is present in the core region of all asparagine-linked carbohydrates (Gupta, D., Oscarson, S., Raju, S., Stanley, P. Toone, E. J. and Brewer, C. F. (1996) Eur. J. Biochem. 242, 320-326). In the present study, the binding specificities of seven other lectins from the Diocleinae subtribe have been investigated by hemagglutination inhibition and isothermal titration microcalorimetry (ITC). The lectins are from Canavalia brasiliensis, Canavalia bonariensis, Cratylia floribunda, Dioclea rostrata, Dioclea virgata, Dioclea violacea, and Dioclea guianensis. Hemagglutination inhibition and ITC experiments show that all seven lectins are Man/Glc-specific and have high affinities for the core trimannoside, like ConA and D. grandiflora lectin. All seven lectins also exhibit the same pattern of binding to a series of monodeoxy analogs and a tetradeoxy analog of the trimannoside, similar to that of ConA and D. grandiflora lectin. However, C. bonariensis, C. floribunda, D. rostrata, and D. violacea, like D. grandiflora, show substantially reduced affinities for a biantennary complex carbohydrate with terminal GlcNAc residues, while C. brasiliensis, D. guianensis, and D. virgata, like ConA, exhibit affinities for the oligosaccharide comparable with that of the trimannoside. Thermodynamic data obtained by ITC indicate different energetic mechanisms of binding of the above two groups of lectins to the complex carbohydrate. The ability of the lectins to induce histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells is shown to correlate with the relative affinities of the proteins for the biantennary carbohydrate.

Amino acid sequence, glycan structure, and proteolytic processing of the lectin of Vatairea macrocarpa seeds

VML is a galactose-binding lectin isolated from Vatairea macrocarpa seeds. By SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, VML is a glycoprotein composed of a major 32-34 kDa double band (alpha-chain) and minor 22 kDa and 13 kDa bands. N-terminal sequencing of electroblotted samples showed that the 22 and 13 kDa bands corresponded to C-(beta) and N-(gamma) terminal fragments of the alpha-chain, respectively. The primary structure of VML displays similarity with other leguminous lectins, particularly with Erythrina variegata, Robinia pseudoacacia and Sophora japonica lectins. VML is N-glycosylated at asparagine residues at positions 111 and 183 with one major glycan structure. Tandem mass spectrometry and methylation analysis indicated the presence of Manalpha1-6[(Manalpha1-3)(Xylbeta1-2)]Manbeta1-4 -GlcNAcbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc, a typical plant Nglycan. Equilibrium sedimentation analysis by analytical centrifugation showed that VML had a mass of 122-130 kDa, which did not change within the pH range 2.5-8.5. These data indicated that VML is a pH-independent homotetrameric protein and that a small proportion of the alpha-subunits is cleaved into noncovalently associated N- and C-terminal fragments. Mass spectrometric analysis suggested a mechanism for the proteolytic processing of VML. V. macrocarpa lectin contains a mixture of doubly (28,525 Da) and singly (27,354 Da) glycosylated alpha-chains. Deglycosylation of Asn-111 correlates with proteolytic cleavage of the Asn-114-Lys-115 bond yielding glycosylated gamma (residues 1-114, 12,304 Da) and nonglycosylated beta-(residues 115-239, 14,957 Da) chains. Some beta-chain molecules are further deglycosylated and N-terminally processed yielding products of molecular masses of 13,783 Da and 13,670 Da.

Human lymphocyte stimulation by legume lectins from the Diocleae tribe

Lectins from eight leguminous seeds from the Diocleae tribe were compared to Concanavalin A (Con A), a well known T cell mitogen, on the stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation and Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal volunteers. Lectins from Canavalia brasiliensis and Dioclea virgata induced the highest lymphocyte proliferation, both much higher than levels obtained with Con A, whereas lectins from Dioclea guianensis var. lasiophylla and from Canavalia bonariensis induced the lowest stimulation. Lectins from Dioclea rostrata, D. grandiflora, D. violacea and Cratylia floribunda induced intermediate levels of proliferation. The highest stimulation for IFN-gamma production was obtained with the lectin from D. rostrata, followed by those of C. floribunda and C. brasiliensis; only the lectins from D. virgata and C. bonariensis induced an IFN-gamma production lower than the one obtained by Con A-stimulation. Since all these legumes belong to the same tribe of C. ensiformis (Con A), and all are supposed to exhibit very similar lectins, it is interesting the high variation in the stimulation of lymphocyte proliferation. It is also noteworthy the dissociation between this parameter and IFN-gamma production in the case of D. virgata. A detailed analysis on the structure of such lectins, and their ligand sugars on lymphocyte surface is necessary to further explore such differences.