Several biological effects of Paullinia cupana (guarana) have been demonstrated, but little infor... more Several biological effects of Paullinia cupana (guarana) have been demonstrated, but little information is available on its effects on the liver. The current study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and genoprotective effects of powder seeds from guarana on CCl4-induced liver injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with guarana powder (100, 300 and 600 mg/kg) or silymarin 100 mg/kg daily for 14 days before treatment with a single dose of CCl4 (50% CCl4, 1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally). The treatment with CCl4 significantly increased the serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, CCl4 increased the DNA damage index in hepatocytes. Guarana in all concentrations was effective in decreasing the ALT and AST activities when compared with the CCl4-treated group. The treatment with guarana decreased DNA damage index when compared with the CCl4-treated group. In addition, the DNA damage index showed a significant posi...
Due to the fact that an increased number of patients have experienced bloodstream infections caus... more Due to the fact that an increased number of patients have experienced bloodstream infections caused by Candida species and the high mortality of this infection, there is a need for a strategy to reduce this scenery. One possible strategy is the use of new drugs, such as fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), which is a high-energy glycolytic metabolite and has shown to have therapeutic effects in several pathological conditions such as ischemia, shock, toxic injuries, and bacterial sepsis. The aim of this manuscript was to determine the role of FBP in experimental Candida albicans bloodstream infection. We used mice that were divided into three experimental groups: sham (not induced), bloodstream infection (induced with intratracheal instillation of C. albicans) and FBP (bloodstream infection plus FBP 500 mg/kg i.p.). Blood was taken for assessment of complete hematological profile and cytokine assay (IL-6 and MCP-1). Results of the study demonstrated that mortality decreased significantly in groups that received FBP. All cytokine and hematological indexes of FBP group were similar to bloodstream infection group with exception of platelets count. FBP significantly prevented the decrease in platelets. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FBP prevented the mortality in C. albicans bloodstream infection.
Oxygen metabolism has an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Abundan... more Oxygen metabolism has an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Abundant amounts of ROS have been identified in the synovial fluid of RA patients. The accumulation of ROS in cells also serves as an important intracellular signaling of molecules that amplify the synovial inflammatory-proliferative response. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the IMA levels and other oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in RA subjects. IMA, AOPP, CRP, hemoglobin, Hct, MCV, RF, creatinine, urea levels were assessed in 16 RA subjects and 20 healthy controls. IMA levels were significantly higher in the RA group than in the control group (0.495 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.433 +/- 0.02 ABSU, p = 0.038). No significant differences were observed for the other markers studied. This study demonstrated that RA is related to oxidative stress and inflammation. We also showed for the first time an increase of IMA levels in RA subjects, suggesting that this pathology promotes an increase...
Nowadays there is an increase in the number of people taking herbals worldwide. Scutia buxifolia ... more Nowadays there is an increase in the number of people taking herbals worldwide. Scutia buxifolia is used for the treatment of hypertension, but little is known about its action on liver. Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control and groups treated during 30 days with 100, 200 and 400 mg of lyophilized aqueous extract of S. buxifolia (SBSB)/kg of body weight. This study was planned to explore hepatotoxic effect of SBSB, which was assessed by serum transaminases (ALT and AST). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were determined in liver, along with thiols content (NPSH), catalase (CAT) activity and, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes. Histopathological studies of liver tissue were performed. Flavonoids and phenolics were quantified in SBSB by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC/DAD). We did not observe alterations on redox status (TBARS, NPSH, CAT and, SOD) in the control and experimental groups. An increase on AST activity was only observed at 200 mg of SBSB, whereas ALT score was not affected by SBSB. Moreover, no morphological alterations were observed on the hepatocytes, matching the analysed biochemical parameters. This way, we conclude that SBSB was not toxic.
... Corresponding author: Rafael Noal Moresco, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciê... more ... Corresponding author: Rafael Noal Moresco, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Análises Clınicas e ... Blood sam-ples were collected from subjects after an overnight fast into Vacutainer (BD Diagnostics, Plymouth, UK) tubes ...
We described an automated technique for measurement of serum nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) using the Co... more We described an automated technique for measurement of serum nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) using the Cobas Mira clinical chemistry analyzer. NO(x) was measured by the modified Griess method. Precision, accuracy, linearity, instrument carry-over and lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) were assessed. The automated technique for measurement of serum NO(x) was linear, precise, and accurate. It has a LLOQ of 2.0 μmol/L. Serum NO(x) measured by the modified Griess method can be applied easily to the Cobas Mira clinical chemistry analyzer.
The aim of this study was to assess the levels of oxidative, inflammatory, and fibrinolytic bioma... more The aim of this study was to assess the levels of oxidative, inflammatory, and fibrinolytic biomarkers as well as DNA strand breakage in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, total protein, albumin, apolipoprotein (Apo) A, Apo B, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), increased ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), -SH, NOx, IL-6, and D-dimer levels were assessed, and DNA strand breakage was evaluated using comet assay in 38 patients with hypercholesterolemia and 20 healthy controls. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, Apo A, Apo B, AOPP, IMA, IL-6, and D-dimer concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. However, NOx and plasma -SH group concentrations were lower in hypercholesterolemic subjects, while no significant differences were observed with respect to DNA strand breakage between the two groups. Hypercholesterolemia is related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Accordingly, AOPP concentration was higher in subjects with hypercholesterolemia, and we speculate that AOPP can reflect the enhancement of protein oxidation and inflammation.
Several biological effects of Paullinia cupana (guarana) have been demonstrated, but little infor... more Several biological effects of Paullinia cupana (guarana) have been demonstrated, but little information is available on its effects on the liver. The current study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and genoprotective effects of powder seeds from guarana on CCl4-induced liver injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with guarana powder (100, 300 and 600 mg/kg) or silymarin 100 mg/kg daily for 14 days before treatment with a single dose of CCl4 (50% CCl4, 1 mL/kg, intraperitoneally). The treatment with CCl4 significantly increased the serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In addition, CCl4 increased the DNA damage index in hepatocytes. Guarana in all concentrations was effective in decreasing the ALT and AST activities when compared with the CCl4-treated group. The treatment with guarana decreased DNA damage index when compared with the CCl4-treated group. In addition, the DNA damage index showed a significant posi...
Due to the fact that an increased number of patients have experienced bloodstream infections caus... more Due to the fact that an increased number of patients have experienced bloodstream infections caused by Candida species and the high mortality of this infection, there is a need for a strategy to reduce this scenery. One possible strategy is the use of new drugs, such as fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP), which is a high-energy glycolytic metabolite and has shown to have therapeutic effects in several pathological conditions such as ischemia, shock, toxic injuries, and bacterial sepsis. The aim of this manuscript was to determine the role of FBP in experimental Candida albicans bloodstream infection. We used mice that were divided into three experimental groups: sham (not induced), bloodstream infection (induced with intratracheal instillation of C. albicans) and FBP (bloodstream infection plus FBP 500 mg/kg i.p.). Blood was taken for assessment of complete hematological profile and cytokine assay (IL-6 and MCP-1). Results of the study demonstrated that mortality decreased significantly in groups that received FBP. All cytokine and hematological indexes of FBP group were similar to bloodstream infection group with exception of platelets count. FBP significantly prevented the decrease in platelets. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FBP prevented the mortality in C. albicans bloodstream infection.
Oxygen metabolism has an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Abundan... more Oxygen metabolism has an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Abundant amounts of ROS have been identified in the synovial fluid of RA patients. The accumulation of ROS in cells also serves as an important intracellular signaling of molecules that amplify the synovial inflammatory-proliferative response. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the IMA levels and other oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in RA subjects. IMA, AOPP, CRP, hemoglobin, Hct, MCV, RF, creatinine, urea levels were assessed in 16 RA subjects and 20 healthy controls. IMA levels were significantly higher in the RA group than in the control group (0.495 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.433 +/- 0.02 ABSU, p = 0.038). No significant differences were observed for the other markers studied. This study demonstrated that RA is related to oxidative stress and inflammation. We also showed for the first time an increase of IMA levels in RA subjects, suggesting that this pathology promotes an increase...
Nowadays there is an increase in the number of people taking herbals worldwide. Scutia buxifolia ... more Nowadays there is an increase in the number of people taking herbals worldwide. Scutia buxifolia is used for the treatment of hypertension, but little is known about its action on liver. Thirty-two Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control and groups treated during 30 days with 100, 200 and 400 mg of lyophilized aqueous extract of S. buxifolia (SBSB)/kg of body weight. This study was planned to explore hepatotoxic effect of SBSB, which was assessed by serum transaminases (ALT and AST). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were determined in liver, along with thiols content (NPSH), catalase (CAT) activity and, superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes. Histopathological studies of liver tissue were performed. Flavonoids and phenolics were quantified in SBSB by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC/DAD). We did not observe alterations on redox status (TBARS, NPSH, CAT and, SOD) in the control and experimental groups. An increase on AST activity was only observed at 200 mg of SBSB, whereas ALT score was not affected by SBSB. Moreover, no morphological alterations were observed on the hepatocytes, matching the analysed biochemical parameters. This way, we conclude that SBSB was not toxic.
... Corresponding author: Rafael Noal Moresco, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciê... more ... Corresponding author: Rafael Noal Moresco, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Análises Clınicas e ... Blood sam-ples were collected from subjects after an overnight fast into Vacutainer (BD Diagnostics, Plymouth, UK) tubes ...
We described an automated technique for measurement of serum nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) using the Co... more We described an automated technique for measurement of serum nitrite/nitrate (NO(x)) using the Cobas Mira clinical chemistry analyzer. NO(x) was measured by the modified Griess method. Precision, accuracy, linearity, instrument carry-over and lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) were assessed. The automated technique for measurement of serum NO(x) was linear, precise, and accurate. It has a LLOQ of 2.0 μmol/L. Serum NO(x) measured by the modified Griess method can be applied easily to the Cobas Mira clinical chemistry analyzer.
The aim of this study was to assess the levels of oxidative, inflammatory, and fibrinolytic bioma... more The aim of this study was to assess the levels of oxidative, inflammatory, and fibrinolytic biomarkers as well as DNA strand breakage in hypercholesterolemic subjects. Fasting glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, total protein, albumin, apolipoprotein (Apo) A, Apo B, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), increased ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), -SH, NOx, IL-6, and D-dimer levels were assessed, and DNA strand breakage was evaluated using comet assay in 38 patients with hypercholesterolemia and 20 healthy controls. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, Apo A, Apo B, AOPP, IMA, IL-6, and D-dimer concentrations were significantly higher in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. However, NOx and plasma -SH group concentrations were lower in hypercholesterolemic subjects, while no significant differences were observed with respect to DNA strand breakage between the two groups. Hypercholesterolemia is related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Accordingly, AOPP concentration was higher in subjects with hypercholesterolemia, and we speculate that AOPP can reflect the enhancement of protein oxidation and inflammation.
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Papers by Helena Kober