Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 1943. / Includes bibliographical references.

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium that is the major cause of many upper gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. It has the unique ability of colonising the human gastric mucosa. Failure in complete eradication of H. pylori in infected patients, mainly due to antibiotic resistance, has necessitated the development of better therapeutics, especially from natural sources. In this study, extract of Maris piper potatoes were obtained and evaluated for antibacterial activity against H. pylori in vitro. Antibacterial activity was carried out against antibiotic-sensitive and clinical antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains, as well as a range of Gram-negative bacteria including Helicobacter and Campylobacter species, using the viable count method. Result of the antibacterial assays indicated that potato extract is bactericidal against H. pylori lab strain as well as clinical antibiotic-resistant strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration at 15.6 mg/ml. Potato extract also showed minimal antibacterial activity against other Gram- negative bacteria tested, with minimum inhibitory concentration at 250 mg/ml. The effect of the extract on the morphology of H. pylori was also observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM analysis of potato extract-treated H. pylori cells showed disruption of the morphology of H. pylori, characterized by separation of the outer membrane from the inner membrane and loss of cell shape. Potato extract also caused hyperpolarisation of H. pylori plasma membrane; however it is unclear whether the membrane active pumping activity is affected. Mutants of H. pylori that are resistant to potato extract were generated as a means to identify the target of potato extract within the H. pylori genome. Genome sequence analysis led to the discovery of a hypothetical protein, encoded by HP0603 gene, which may be involved in inducing resistance to potato extract. The results obtained in this study provide great insights into the anti-H. pylori activity of potato extract. Overall, this study suggests the potential use of potato extract as a source of anti-H. pylori agents; and stimulates further studies into identifying its mechanism of action.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2003Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:55:39Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 carmo_mt_me_botfmvz.pdf: 1897708 bytes, checksum: fa05c4ad728f9d308be62b06ac394c0f (MD5) / Vários estudos têm relatado que a égua é refratária a todas as drogas rotineiramente utilizadas, visando superovulação em outras espécies, como o FSH e o eCG (Mc Cue, 1996). O extrato de pituitária eqüina (EPE) é um preparado parcial de gonadotrofina eqüina, e o único composto que consistentemente induz ovulações múltiplas em éguas (Squires et al, 1999); contudo, a resposta superovulatória tem sido baixa (1-3 ovulações/égua) (Mc Cue, 1996). Estudos mais recentes demonstram uma melhora no percentual de ovulações múltiplas em éguas superovuladas com a administração do EPE duas vezes ao dia (4-7ovulações/égua), entretanto com baixa taxa de recuperação embrionária (Scoggin et al., 2002; Alvarenga et al., 2001). Este fato pode estar relacionado a produção de oócitos de baixa qualidade (anormalidade na maturação folicular e oocitária) (Dippert et al., 1994; Palmer et al., 1993), a falha do folículo em liberar o oócito e a dificuldade na captação do mesmo para o interior do oviduto, assim como o trânsito deste ou do embrião pelo oviduto (Dippert et al., 1994). O extrato de pituitária eqüina (EPE) foi preparado no laboratório do Departamento de Reprodução Animal e Radiologia Veterinária da Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), campus de Botucatu - SP, através do método proposto por Guillon & Combarnous, (1983). Seis éguas em bom estado nutricional, com idade variando entre quatro e 15 anos e massa corpórea de 400 a 500 Kg, além de um bom histórico reprodutivo, foram monitoradas diariamente durante os períodos compreendidos entre os meses de novembro (2001) a março (2002). Foram utilizados dois ciclos estrais de cada égua subdivididos em dois grupos: doses constantes e doses decrescentes; porém entre os tratamentos esperou-se um intervalo de dois ciclos estrais. O experimento foi conduzido no posto de monta... / Several studies have reported the is unresponsive to all the routinely used drugs aiming the superovulation in other species, such as the FSH and the eCG. The equine pituitary extract (EPE) is a partial equine gonadotropin preparation, and the only compound which consintenty induces multiple ovulation in mares; however, the superovulatory response has been low (1-3 ovulations/mare). More recent studies demonstrate some improvement in the percentage of multiple ovulation in superovulated mares with the EPE administration twice a day (4-7 ovulations/mare), nevertheless with a low rate of embryo recovery. This fact can be related to the low quality oocyte production (abnormality in the follicular and oocytary maturation), the follicular failure in releasing the oocyte and its collection towards the inner part of the oviduct, as its or the embryo traffic through the oviduct. The improvement on embryo recovery rate has been shownin cows with the utilization of decreasing doses of FSH. The present experiment aimmed to compare the ovulatory answer and embryo production of mares treated twice daily with constant and decreasing doses of EPE. Six mares in good nutrition status, with ages ranging from four and 15 years old and weighing from 400 to 500 Kg, together with a good reproductive history, were monitored daily through the preiods between the months of november/2001 to march/2002. Two estrous cytrous cycles were used from each mare and subdivided into two groups: constant doses and decresing doses;however between the treatments na interval of two estrous cycles was given. The experiment was carried out in the riding station (UNESP), placed in Lageado, a farm in the city of Botucatu - SP. For both groups, the treatment was started in the seventh post-ovuatory day, presenting a very evident corpora lutea and follicles equal or under 25 mm of diameter in the... (Complete abstract, click electronic address below)

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays a role in a broad array of biological processes, including drug metabolism and transport. Ginkgo biloba is an herb commonly used to improve cognitive function. In primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, Ginkgo biloba induces the mRNA expression of CYP3A23, a target gene for rat PXR. The present study tested the hypothesis that Ginkgo biloba activates PXR. Cultured HepG2 human hepatoma cells were transfected with the full-length human PXR (pCR3-hPXR), the full-length mouse PXR (pCR3-mPXR), or an empty vector (pCR3) in addition to a reporter plasmid (XREM-CYP3A4-LUC; firefly luciferase) and an internal control plasmid (phRL-TK; Renilla luciferase). At 24 h after transfection, cells were treated for 24 h with Ginkgo biloba extract and luciferase activity was measured. The extract at 200 µg/ml increased mouse and human PXR activity by 3.0-fold and 9.5-fold, respectively, indicating that Ginkgo biloba more effectively activates human PXR. Dose-response experiments showed that the extract produced a log-linear increase over the range of 200–800 µg/ml. To determine whether Ginkgo biloba extract induces human PXR target gene expression, cultured LS180 human colon adenocarcinoma cells were treated for 72 h with the extract. Total cellular RNA was isolated and reverse transcribed. CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and ABCB1 cDNAs were amplified by real-time PCR. Ginkgo biloba extract at 200, 400, and 800 µg/ml increased CYP3A4 mRNA expression by 1.7-, 2.4-, and 2.5-fold, respectively. The extract at the same concentrations increased the mRNA expression of CYP3A5 (1.3 to 3.6-fold) and ABCB1 (2.7 to 6.4-fold). To determine whether the increased expression involved PXR activation, cells were treated with a PXR antagonist, L-sulforaphane, and Ginkgo biloba extract. L-sulforaphane at 5, 10, and 20 µM decreased CYP3A4 mRNA expression by 54%, 78%, and 93%, respectively, in cells co-treated with the extract. A similar pattern of response was obtained with CYP3A5 and ABCB1. In cells co-treated with the extract, L-sulforaphane (5 and 10 µM) was not cytotoxic and did not decrease PXR mRNA expression. Our data from cell culture experiments indicate that Ginkgo biloba activates PXR and increases CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and ABCB1 mRNA expression. / Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of / Graduate

no / Cajanus cajan L, a member of the family Fabaceae, was identified from the Nigerian antimalarial ethnobotany as possessing antimalarial properties. The bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude methanol extract of C. cajan leaves was done in vitro using the multiresistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum (K1) in the parasite lactate dehydrogenase assay. Isolation of compound was achieved by a combination of chromatographic techniques, while the structure of the compound was elucidated by spectroscopy. This led to the identification of a cajachalcone, 2′,6′-dihydroxy-4-methoxy chalcone, as the biologically active constituent from the ethyl acetate fraction. Cajachalcone had an IC50 value of 2.0 μg/mL (7.4 μM) and could be a lead for anti-malarial drug discovery.

Green tea contains high concentrations of polyphenolic compounds known as catechins. Studies in animal models suggest several potential mechanisms for specific metabolic effects at rest and during exercise, including improved glycemic control, altered activity of several glucose transporter proteins and improved endurance capacity. In humans, green tea extract (GTE) supplementation has been associated with improved glycemic control under resting conditions and increased fat oxidation during exercise. This dissertation examined the potential interactive effects of GTE supplementation and exercise on metabolism in humans with a focus on glycemic control. In Study 1, we demonstrated that GTE increased lipolysis and reduced heart rate during steady-state exercise in recreationally active men. Although substrate oxidation was not affected, GTE appeared to lower postprandial glucose under resting conditions. We hypothesized that the effects of GTE on exercise metabolism and glycemic control would be more apparent in humans with reduced exercise tolerance and impaired glucose tolerance. Thus, in Study 2, we examined the effects of GTE in sedentary overweight men. There were no differences in any metabolic or physiological responses during exercise; however, following exercise, GTE supplementation reduced [glucose] and insulinemia in response to an oral glucose load. Based on the findings of Study 2, the aim of Study 3 was to elucidate potential mechanisms for the alterations in glycemic response. Through the use of a dual-glucose tracer method, we demonstrated that GTE did not affect the rate of appearance of glucose in plasma in sedentary men; however, GTE supplementation allowed for the same glucose clearance rate despite a reduced insulinemia. We also observed lower carbohydrate oxidation during exercise with GTE. These findings suggest that GTE has an insulin-sensitizing effect during recovery from exercise, possibly due to enhanced glucose transporter activity; however, this hypothesis warrants further investigation in humans. / Dissertation / Doctor of Science (PhD) / Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Compared to other teas, green tea has a greater abundance of catechins, compounds that have been associated with health benefits particularly related to the metabolism of sugars and fats. This unique property of green tea could partly explain its longstanding medicinal role in some Asian cultures. Extensive research on green tea has increased its popularity over the past three decades. Studies involving both humans and other animals have shown improvements in weight control and glycemic control. In response to these findings green tea is often touted as having “anti-obesity” and anti-diabetic” properties. This dissertation examined the interaction between green tea extract supplementation and exercise on metabolism with a particular focus on blood sugar control. We observed that supplementation with green tea extract improved the response to sugar ingested after exercise. This finding has important implications for improving the control of ingested sugar in humans.

Prolonged exposure to high ambient temperature without cooling causes heat stress (HS) resulting in altered growth, body composition and metabolic dysfunction in pigs. Grape seed extract (GSE) has been shown to reduce inflammation, and improve glucose transport and metabolism. Thus, GSE may be an effective supplement to combat the consequences of heat stress; however this possibility has not been evaluated in a large animal model. The objective of the current study was to examine the effect of GSE supplementation on pig performance and body composition during HS. Twenty-four female pigs (62.3± 8 kg BW) were randomly assigned to a 2X2 factorial experiment; thermal neutral (TN; 21-22°C) or heat stress conditions (HS; 33-34°C) for 7 days and fed either a control or a GSE supplemented diet (12mg/kg body weight). Body temperature (TB), respiration rate (RR) and feed intake (FI) were measured daily. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Respiration rate and TB increased in the HS control group compared to the TN control group (p<0.05), however GSE did not alter these parameters compared to control for the duration of the 7 day period. HS decreased FI (P < 0.05). Fasting blood glucose concentrations were approximately 1.5-fold greater in the control diet compared to their GSE supplemented counterpart (p=0.067) on day 6 of the HS period, but did not differ between groups at the end of day 7 of HS. Body composition analysis indicated bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and percent change of fat remain unchanged between treatment groups. Percent change in weight was significantly reduced in HS. Lean tissue accretion was 45% greater in TN compared to HS groups (p<0.05). Endotoxin concentrations were approximately 2-fold lower in the HS-GSE group compared to the control (P=0.083). Grape seed extract supplementation does not appear to alter pig growth performance or body composition, but does appear to delay the onset of reduced feed intake by 1 day, reduce intestinal permeability, and improve insulin sensitivity during additional stress. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

The chicken embryonic β-type globin gene, ρ, is silenced on day five of embryogenesis. Concomitant with this silencing is methylation of cytosine residues in the promoter and proximal transcribed region of the gene, which is first detected on day seven and is complete in adult cells. Once methylated, expression of the gene cannot be induced unless the methylation is removed by treatment of cells with Sazacytidine. Therefore ρ-globin is a member of a small group of genes whose normal developmentally regulated expression is mediated at least in part by DNA methylation.A methyl-DNA binding complex, termed the MeCPC (Erythroid Methyl Cytosine-binding Protein Complex), has been found to bind to the methylated, but not unmethylated, ρ-globin promoter and proximal transcribed region in nuclear extracts from definitive erythrocytes. This complex has a stronger binding affinity for its cognate binding sequence, the methylated ρ-globin proximal transcribed region (M-ρ248), than for an artificial 5-methylcytosine-rich sequence (M-CG11).To define the components of the MeCPC, we developed two chromatographic procedures to purify the complex from adult chicken red blood cell nuclear extracts (Purification Strategies I and II). Mass spectrometry was performed on the MeCPC obtained by Purification Strategy I and proteins were identified by a novel application of peptide mass fingerprint data fitting. Four components of the previously-purified MeCPl transcriptional repression complex were identified in the sample: MBD2, RbAp48, HDAC2 and MTA1. Another identified protein, MENT, is a factor expressed only in chicken hematopoietic cells. These five proteins, as well as the MeCPl component Mi2, were found to tightly coelute by Western blotting of gel-filtration fractions from Purification Strategy II. Therefore, we conclude that these five proteins are components of the MeCPC.To confirm that MBD2 is associated with the ρ-globin gene in vivo, we perfomed the chromatin immunoprecipitation assay using anti-MBD2 antibodies. In adult erythrocytes, significant enrichment for MBD2 is seen at the transcriptionally inactive ρ-globin gene, but no enrichment is observed at the transcriptionally active βA globin gene. These experiments confirm that MBD2 binds to the methylated p-globin gene in adult chicken erythroid cells.

Orientador: Cezinande de Meira / Banca: Sony Dimas Bicudo / Banca: Cássia Maria Barroso Orlandi / Resumo: O presente estudo visou avaliar a resposta ovariana e a taxa de recuperação embrionária em éguas tratadas com EPE nas doses de 6, 8 e 12,5 mg sendo o tratamento iniciado após a aplicação de prostaglandina F2 no oitavo ou sexto dia após a ovulação com a finalidade de reduzir o tempo e custo do tratamento. Foram realizados dois experimentos, para o experimento 1, 40 ciclos estrais de éguas Mangalarga Marchador, entre cinco e 24 anos, e para o segundo experimento 30 ciclos estrais de éguas mestiças entre quatro e 12 anos de idade, foram estudados. Foi aplicada 7,5 mg i.m.de prostaglandina F2 (Dinoprost Trometamina) no oitavo (experimento 1) ou sexto (experimento 2) dia após a ovulação. Nesse momento as éguas foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em cinco grupos para o experimento 1: (n=8 ciclos estrais/grupo): Grupo F20-23mm 6mg e F20-23mm 8mg receberam 6 e 8mg, respectivamente, de EPE por via i.m. a cada 12 horas, a partir da detecção de folículo(s) entre 20-23mm de diâmetro. Nos Grupos D8 - 6mg e D8 - 8mg foi aplicado 6 ou 8 mg de EPE, respectivamente, a cada 12 horas por via i.m. a partir do D8 (concomitante a PGF2 ). No Grupo F20-23mm Salina (Controle): as éguas receberam solução salina respeitando os mesmos intervalos que os grupos tratados com EPE a partir da detecção de folículo(s) entre 20-23mm de diâmetro. No experimento 2, a metodologia foi similiar ao experimento 1, contudo, as éguas receberam 12,5 mg de EPE, e o tratamento foi iniciado no sexto dia após a ovulação para o Grupo D6-12,5 mg (n=9), ou quando detectou-se folículo(s) entre 20-23mm, Grupo F20-23mm 12,5 mg (n=10) e F20-23mm Salina (Controle, n=10). Em todos os grupos (Exp. 1 e 2) o tratamento (EPE ou salina) foi mantido até 12 horas anterior a detecção de folículo(s) com diâmetro 35 mm, nesse momento a ovulação foi induzida com única dose de 2500 U.I. de hCG, i.v. (Vetecor®)... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The present study aimed to evaluate the ovarian response and embrionary recovery in mares treated with doses of 6, 8 and 12.5 mg of EPE. The treatment was started after application of prostaglandin F2 for reduce the period and cost of treatment. Two experiments were conducted, for the experiment one, 40 estrous cycles of Mangalarga Marchador mares and ranged in age from 5 to 24 yrs, and for the second experiment 30 estrous cycles of crossbreed mares ranged in age from four to 12 yrs was used. In the eighth (experiment 1) or sixth (experiment 2) after ovulation was applied 7.5 mg i.m. of prostaglandin F2 (Dinoprost Trometamina). In this moment, all mares in experiment 1 was randomly assigned to treatment and control groups as follows: Groups 1 and 2 (n=8 cycles/group) received 6 mg of EPE, i.m. twice daily, beginning when largest follicle (s) was (were) 20-23 mm (Group F20-23mm 6mg) or regardless of follicle size on Day 8 (Group D8 - 6 mg); Groups 3 and 4 (n=8 cycles/group), received 8 mg of EPE, i.m. twice daily, beginning when largest follicle was 20-23 mm (Group F20-23 mm 8 mg) or regardless of follicle size on Day 8 (Group D8 - 8mg); Group F20-23mm Saline (Control, n=8 cycles) received saline, i.m. beginning when largest follicle (s) was (were) 20-23 mm in the same range of groups treated with EPE. In the second experiment was used the same methodology of the experiment 1, however, the mares received 12.5mg of EPE, and the treatment began in the sixth day after ovulation for the Group D6- 12.5mg (n=9), or when the largest follicle (s) was (were) 20-23 mm, Group F20-23mm 12,5 mg (n=10) e F20-23mm Saline (Control, n=10). Treatments with EPE or saline continued until 12 hours before detection of follicle (s) reached 35 mm, at which time a single dose of hCG (2500 U.I., i.v., Vetecor®) was given. Groups were compared using ANOVA and mean differences among groups were... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

A quitina é um biopolímero abundante na natureza e seu derivado, a quitosana é tido como excelente biomaterial na engenharia tecidual por sua versatilidade e propriedades, assim como colágeno que por sua presença natural no organismo e seu papel biológico fazem com que seja amplamente utilizado na medicina. As blendas destes biopolímeros possuem excelentes propriedades mecânicas devido às interações eletrostáticas e pontes de hidrogênio, e propriedades biológicas pelos materiais que as compõe, já demonstrando eficácia na regeneração tecidual. O extrato de Garcinia mangostna L., ou extrato de mangostão, é pouco estudado no ocidente, mas no oriente é amplamente utilizado para fins medicinais, com propriedades promissoras na área de engenharia tecidual. A interação deste com as blendas de quitosana/colágeno ainda não foram estudadas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a obtenção e estudo de scaffolds de quitosana/colágeno em diferentes proporções (1:1, 2:1 e 3:1) com extrato de mangostão em variadas concentrações (10, 20 e 30%). A quitosana foi extraída por desacetilação da &#946-quitina de gládios de lula, o colágeno aniônico foi obtido de tendão bovino por hidrólise alcalina e o extrato de mangostão foi obtido da casca do fruto. A caracterização da quitosana e assim como colágeno, extrato e misturas foram analisados por absorção na região do infravermelho (FT-IR), efetuou-se um ensaio reológico dos géis e os scaffolds foram submetidos à calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), ensaios de intumescimento e liberação do extrato. Ensaios reológicos indicam um comportamento pseudoplástico para todas as amostras e se feito um tratamento matemático, o melhor modelo às quais estas se adaptam seria o modelo de Carreau. Os DSC dos scaffolds mostram que a adição de extrato tende à elevar a temperatura de desnaturação (Td) do colágeno. Espectros FT-IR caracterizaram o extrato e não mostraram resultados conclusivos sobre a incorporação dele aos filmes. Fotomicrografias por MEV mostram alteração no tamanho médio de poros e canais com a adição de extrato. Ensaios de intumescimento dos scaffolds mostram uma diminuição de capacidade de absorção com adição de extrato, os ensaios de liberação feitos para os scaffolds das misturas mostram uma liberação entre 25-35% do extrato sendo as cinéticas de liberação modeladas pelo modelo de Kosmeyer-Peppas para a maioria das amostras. Obtendo-se assim géis e scaffolds que mostram resultados inicias promissores e com acréscimo de estudos complementares podem vir a ser utilizados no campo da engenharia tecidual. / Chitosan is an abundant biopolymer in nature, and it is an excellent biomaterial for tissue engineering due to its versatility and properties. Collagen, by the natural presence in the organism and to the biological role makes it widely used in medicine. These biopolymers blends have excellent mechanical properties due to electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds, and biological properties, demonstrating good efficiency in tissue engineering. The Garcinia mangostana L. extract, or mangosteen extract, is not very well studied in the western culture, but in the eastern, it is widely used in local medicine, with promising properties in tissue engineering field. The interaction between chitosan/collagen blends and mangosteen extract has not yet been studied. This study aims to obtain scaffolds from chitosan/collagen blends in different ratios, such as 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 with different extract concentrations (10, 20 and 30%). Chitosan was obtained by deproteinization and deacetylation of &#946-chitin from squid\'s pens, anionic collagen was obtained from bovine tendon by alkaline hydrolysis, and the mangosteen extract was obtained from the hulls of fruits. Materials characterization was done by FT-IR, DSC, SEM, swelling and extract release in buffer solution. Rheological measurements were made with the gels formed from the mixture of the components. The rheological studies indicates a pseudo plastic behavior to all samples and by a mathematical treatment, the Carreau mathematical model was the best fitting. The DSC analysis for the collagen mixtures indicated a tendency to elevate the denaturation temperature with addition of extract. With the FT-IR results, we could obtain mangosteen extract spectrum but the mixtures spectrum did not show the extract incorporation. The photomicrographies obtained by SEM showed pore and channels alteration with extract addition. Swelling studies showed a decrease in swelling capacity after extract addition, release studies showed a 25-35% extract release by scaffolds and in most cases the kinetic was fitted by Kosmeyer-Peppas. Thus obtaining promising gels and scaffolds in the field of tissue engineering, but needing of further development.