Luiz Gustavo Brenner Reetz

Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in prostate cancer patients: Relation to Gleason score, treatment and bone metastasis

Over the last decade, epidemiological, experimental and clinical studies have implicated oxidative stress in the development and progression of prostate cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the oxidative status and antioxidant defense in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) taking into consideration: treatment, Gleason score and bone metastasis. For this, we measured concentrations of plasmatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), serum protein carbonylation, whole blood catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, as well as the plasma and erythrocyte thiol levels and serum vitamin C and E concentration. This study was performed on 55 patients with PCa and 55 healthy men. TBARS levels and serum protein carbonylation were higher in PCa patients than in controls and altered levels of antioxidants were found in these patients. CAT activity was decreased and SOD activity was higher in PCa patients when compared with controls. Non-protein thiol levels were increased, however, serum vitamin C and vitamin E content were reduced in PCa patients when compared with controls. In addition, different parameters analyzed in PCa patients based on metastasis, treatment and Gleason score showed changes in oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant defenses. These findings may indicate an imbalance in the oxidant/antioxidant status, supporting the idea that oxidative stress plays a role in PCa, moreover, the oxidative profile appear to be modified by bone metastasis, treatment and Gleason score.

Brazilian nut consumption by healthy volunteers improves inflammatory parameters.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a single dose of Brazil nuts on the inflammatory markers of healthy individuals. METHOD A randomized crossover study was conducted with 10 healthy individuals (mean age 24.7 ± 3.4 y). Each individual was tested four times regarding intake of different portions of Brazil nuts: 0, 5, 20 and 50 g. At each testing period, peripheral blood was collected before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 48 h after intake of nuts, as well as at 5 and 30 d after intake of various Brazil nut portions. Blood samples were tested for high-sensitivity to C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, urea, and creatinine. RESULTS Consumption of nuts did not affect biochemical parameters for liver and kidney function, indicating absence of hepatic and renal toxicity. A single intake of Brazil nuts (20 or 50 g) caused a significant decrease in serum IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels (P < 0.05), whereas serum levels of IL-10 were significantly increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results indicate a long-term decrease in inflammatory markers after a single intake of large portions of Brazil nuts in healthy volunteers. Therefore, the long-term effect of regular Brazil nut consumption on inflammatory markers should be better investigated.

A Single Consumption of High Amounts of the Brazil Nuts Improves Lipid Profile of Healthy Volunteers

Background. This study investigates the effects of Brazil nut ingestion on serum lipid profile in healthy volunteers. Methods. Ten healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Each subject was tested 4 times in a randomized crossover in relation to the ingestion of different serving sizes of the Brazil nut: 0, 5, 20, or 50 g. At each treatment point, peripheral blood was drawn before and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 48 hours and 5 and 30 days. Blood samples were tested for total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c and LDL-c, resp.), triglycerides, selenium, aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, albumin, total protein, alkaline phosphatase, gamma GT, urea, creatinine, and C-reactive protein. Results. A significant increase of the plasma selenium levels was observed at 6 hours within the groups receiving the nuts. Serum LDL-c was significantly lower, whereas HDL-c was significantly higher 9 hours after the ingestion of 20 or 50 g of nuts. The biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function were not modified by ingestion of nuts. Conclusions. This study shows that the ingestion of a single serving of Brazil nut can acutely improve the serum lipid profile of healthy volunteers.

In vitro evaluation of triazenes: DNA cleavage, antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity against acute myeloid leukemia cells

). The observation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the solid state of compound 3, based on the structural analysis by X-ray crystallography, as well as the results of IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic analyses of compounds 1, 2 and 3 are discussed in the present work.

Composição química, atividade antibacteriana in vitro e toxicidade em Artemia salina do óleo essencial das inflorescências de Ocimum gratissimum L., Lamiaceae

The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation of the inflorescences of Ocimum gratissimum L. was analyzed by GC/MS. The main constituents were eugenol (81.94%) and γ-muurolene (12.58%). Antibacterial activity was shown against all assayed strains by the broth microdilution method. Its worth noting the activity against resistant strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranged between 0.5-2 mg/mL and 1-4 mg/mL, respectively. Preliminary toxicity assayed by the brine-shrimp (Artemia salina L.) test showed LC50 values of 233.8 (200.7 - 272.0) µg/mL and 186.1 (144.1 - 228.5) µg/mL, respectively for the essential oil and eugenol (positive control).

Triazenos e atividade antibacteriana

Fifteen triazenes compounds were studied concerning their antibacterial activity by broth microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined with E. coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Ralstonia pickettii, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Micrococcus sp., Enterococcus sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Bacillus cereus, Corynebacterium sp., Rhodococcus sp., Salmonella sp., Serratia marcescens, Morganella morganii, Enterobacter cloacae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Shigella sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, ESBL Klebsiella oxytoca 14, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 23, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 24, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 25, ESBL Escherichia coli 26, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 27, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 31, ESBL Escherichia coli 32, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae 37 e ESBL Escherichia coli 38. The highest effect was evidenced by the compound 1-methyl-3-(p-carboxyphenyl)triazene 1-oxide (2) against Streptococcus agalactiae (MIC = 16 µg/mL and MBC = 32 µg/mL). The compounds 1-phenyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl)triazene-1-oxide (9), 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-carboxyphenyl)triazene (10) e 1-(4-acethyl amine phenyl)-3-(4-carboxyphenyl)triazene (11) presented MIC between 32 and 64 µg/mL against S. edipermidis, S. saprophyticus, Rhodococcus sp. and E. cloacae. The compounds 1-methyl-3-phenyltriazene-1-oxide (1) , bis-1,3-(4-acethyl oxime)triazene (3), bis-1,3 (4-acethyl phenyl)triazene (4), 1-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-acethylphenyl)triazene (5), 1,3-(3-hydroxy-diphenyltriazenide)(piridil)(bis-oxo-vanadium) (12), 1-(3-nitrophenyl)-3-phenyltriazene (14), 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-benzyltriazene (15) presented MIC of the 128 µg/mL against S. aureus ATCC 25923, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853, A. lwoffii, Micrococcus sp., S. epidermidis, S. saprophyticus, Corynebacterirum sp., E. cloacae, S. flenneri e S. sonnei. The compounds 1-phenyl-3-(4-acethylphenyl)triazene (6), 1,3-bis-(4-ethoxycarbonylphenyl) triazene (7), and 3-(4-carboxylatephenyl)-1-methyltriazene 1-oxide of potassium tetrahydrate (13) presented MICs equals or highest than 128 µg/mL. The results have demonstrated the potential biological activity of these compounds against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase activity in lung cancer patients and its relationship with oxidative stress

This study investigated the δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activity in whole blood as well as the parameters of oxidative stress, such as reactive species (RS) levels in serum, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as total thiols (T-SH) and non-protein thiols (NPSH) levels in platelets. Moreover, the content of vitamin C and E in plasma and serum, respectively, in lung cancer patients was also investigated. We collected blood samples from patients (n=28) previously treated for lung cancer with chemotherapy. Patients were classified as stage IIIb and IV according to the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). Results showed a decrease of 37% in δ-ALA-D activity in patients with lung cancer when compared to the control group. RS and TBARS levels were 8% and 99% higher in the patient group, respectively. The activity of SOD and CAT as well as the vitamin C content were 41%, 35% and 127% lower in patients when compared with controls, respectively. However, T-SH and vitamin E levels were 27% and 44% higher in lung cancer patients, respectively. Results show that the overproduction of reactive species in patients with lung cancer may be interfering with the activity of δ-ALA-D. Likewise, the decrease in the activity of this enzyme may be contributing for the oxidative stress.

Effect of antioxidant potential on severity of cirrhosis in humans

BACKGROUND/AIMS to examine the relationship between the antioxidant potential and severity parameters of cirrhosis in humans. METHODS fifteen patients with hepatic cirrhosis (nine subjects - Child group B, and six subjects - Child group C) and nine control subjects were enrolled in the study. The main criteria taken into account to characterize the diagnosis of cirrhosis and its complications were the AST: ALT ratio, AST to platelet ratio index, Bonacini score, Meld score and Child classification. Those parameters were determined based on laboratory results and patients clinical records. Se, Zn, ascorbic acid (AA) levels and oxidative stress parameters were measured in blood samples of cirrhotic patients. RESULTS the analysis of plasma levels of Se and AA showed low concentrations in cirrhotic patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Though, there was a positive correlation between plasma of Se and severity parameters of cirrhosis in patients of Child group B and C. In the activity of the antioxidant enzymes only catalase was lower in patients of Child group C compared with control group. CONCLUSION we found low plasma levels of Se and AA among cirrhotic patients. However, is not clear why selenium levels tend to increase with the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Perfil de suscetibilidade dos microorganismos isolados de uma unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal

O presente estudo descreve o perfil epidemiologico das infeccoes na unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal (UTIN) no Hospital Universitario de Santa Maria, RS, Brasil, e o perfil de resistencia aos antimicrobianos, no periodo compreendido entre junho de 2004 a julho de 2005. Os dados foram coletados retrospectivamente de 1411 amostras cultivadas nesse periodo. Staphylococcus coagulose negativa (SCN) doi o patogeno mais frequentemente isolado, seguido por Escherichia coli e especies de Candida .