Metal and semimetal loadings in sediments and water from mangrove ecosystems: A preliminary assessment of anthropogenic enrichment in São Tomé island (central Africa)

Mangroves act as buffer areas for marine systems, providing a barrier to contamination from continental sources by retaining metal pollutants. This study evaluates metal and semimetal contamination in the water column and sediments of four mangroves located on the volcanic island of São Tomé. Several metals had a widespread distribution, with occasional high concentrations, linked to potential sources of contamination. However, the two smaller mangroves, located in the northern part of the island, tended to have high metal concentrations. Arsenic and chromium concentrations were particularly concerning, particularly if we consider this is an isolated and non-industrialized island. This work highlights the need for further assessments and a better understanding of processes and implications of metal contamination in mangroves. This assumes a particular relevance in areas that have particular geochemical compositions (i.e., volcanic origin) and in developing countries, where people often rely directly and heavily on resources obtained from these ecosystems.

Randomized controlled trial of cognitive-motivational therapy program (PIPE) for the initial phase of schizophrenia: Maintenance of efficacy at 5-year follow up✰

AIM

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive motivational treatment program.

METHOD

A randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was carried out. A total of 104 patients were recruited to take part in the trial, of whom ultimately 62 patients were allocated into two groups and finished the study. An initial assessment was carried out before patients were randomly placed in one of two groups for the clinical trial: (a) PIPE program plus routine care; and (b) routine care only. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline at 6 months, 1 year and follow-ups, at 18 months and 5 years).

RESULTS

MANCOVA analysis of tests repeated 18 months after the start of the intervention detected significant differences between the two groups in terms of clinical variables, everyday functioning and relapses. These differences remained upon follow-up measurements taken five years after the start of the trial.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study offers scientific evidence for cognitive-motivational therapy's effectiveness as a treatment for clinical symptoms in the early stages of psychosis. PIPE intervention may contribute to long-term clinical improvement and stability.

Source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil sediments: Application of different methods

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds that tend to rapidly associate to particulate organic matter in sediments due to their hydrophobic characteristics, inducing toxic, carcinogens and mutagens effects to many living organisms. The monitoring and identification of the sources of PAHs in sediments is relevant especially because they are the main reservoir and secondary source of contamination of aquatic systems. To identify the sources there are different methods for data treatment that complement each other: evaluation of profiles distribution, source-specific diagnostic ratios of PAHs and principal component analysis (PCA). To demonstrate the applicability of these different methods, concentrations of PAHs from sediments of four Portuguese estuarine systems were used: Ria de Aveiro, Tagus River, Sado River and Ria Formosa, in order to identify the sources.

Adipocyte accumulation in corpus cavernosum: First clinical evidence and pathophysiological implications in erectile dysfunction

OBJECTIVES

Animal models have shown that erectile dysfunction is associated with adipocyte accumulation under tunica albugínea, which could be involved in venous leakage and loss of penile rigidity. In the current sudy, we compared the histology of the penile sub-albuginean region of drug-refractory erectile dysfunction patients undergoing penile prosthesis implantation with potent patients with Peyronie's disease undergoing curvature correction procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventeen refractory erectile dysfunction patients and fourteen potent patients with Peyronie's disease were recruited. Sub-albuginean tissue samples were taken in each surgery. An expert uropathologist analysed each section. A bivariate analysis was performed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios; P value<.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Eleven patients (11/17) in the case group presented cavernous fat cell accumulation, while only one patient (1/14) in the control group presented this finding (P<.05). Adjusted odds ratio for erectile dysfunction was 40.72; 95% CI 2.28-727.29 (P=.012).

CONCLUSIONS

Different studies have shown that androgen disruption could be involved in penile structural changes, leading to trabecular smooth muscle apoptosis and trans or de-differentiation into adipocytes. This is the first prospective study in humans to report an association between erectile dysfunction and sub-albuginean adipocyte accumulation. Venous leakage secondary to this phenomenon could be a factor in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction, especially in patients that do not respond to medical therapy.

Pseudoautosomal abnormalities in terminal AZFb+c deletions are associated with isochromosomes Yp and may lead to abnormal growth and neuropsychiatric function

STUDY QUESTION

Are copy number variations (CNVs) in the pseudoautosomal regions (PARs) frequent in subjects with Y-chromosome microdeletions and can they lead to abnormal stature and/or neuropsychiatric disorders?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Only subjects diagnosed with azoospermia factor (AZF)b+c deletions spanning to the end of the Y chromosome (i.e. terminal deletions) harbor Y isochromosomes and/or cells 45,X that lead to pseudoautosomal gene CNVs, which were associated with abnormal stature and/or neuropsychiatric disorders.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

The microdeletions in the long arm of the Y chromosome (Yq) that include the loss of one to three AZF regions, referred to as Yq microdeletions, constitute the most important known etiological factor for primary spermatogenic failure. Recently, controversy has arisen about whether Yq microdeletions are associated with gain or loss of PAR genes, which are implicated in skeletal development and neuropsychiatric function.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

We studied a cohort of 42 Chilean patients with complete AZF deletions (4 AZFa, 4 AZFb, 23 AZFc, 11 AZFb+c) from a university medical center, diagnosed over a period of 15 years. The subjects underwent complete medical examinations with special attention to their stature and neuropsychiatric function.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

All subjects were characterized for Yq breakpoints by PCR, and for CNVs in PARs by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), followed by qPCR analysis for genes in PAR1 (SHOX and ZBED1), PAR2 (IL9R) and two single copy genes (SRY and DDX3Y, respectively located in Yp11.3 and AZFa). In addition, karyotypes revision and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for SRY and centromeric probes for X (DXZ1) and Y (DYZ3) chromosomes were performed in males affected with CNVs.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

We did not detect CNVs in any of the 35 AZF-deleted men with interstitial deletions (AZFa, AZFb, AZFc or AZFb+c). However, six of the seven patients with terminal AZFb+c deletions showed CNVs: two patients showed a loss and four patients showed a gain of PAR1 genes, with the expected loss of VAMP-7 in PAR2. In these patients, the Yq breakpoints localized to the palindromes P8, P5 or P4. In the four cases with gain of PAR1, qPCR analysis showed duplicated signals for SRY and DDX3Y and one copy of IL9R, indicating isodicentric Yp chromosomes [idic(Y)] with breakpoint in Yq11.22. The two patients who had loss of PAR1, as shown by MLPA, had an additional reduction for SRY and DDX3Y, as shown by qPCR, associated with a high proportion of 45,X cells, as determined by FISH and karyotype. In agreement with the karyotype analysis, we detected DYZ3++ and DYZ3+ cells by FISH in the six patients, confirming idic(Y) and revealing additional monocentric Y chromosome [i(Y)]. Five patients had a history of major depressive disorders or bipolar disorder, and three had language impairment, whereas two patients showed severe short stature (Z score: -2.75 and -2.62), while a man with bipolar disorder was very tall (Z score: +2.56).

LARGE SCALE DATA

N/A.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

The number of males studied with Y-chromosome microdeletions and normozoospermic controls with normal karyotypes may not be enough to rule out an association between AZF deletions and PAR abnormalities. The prevalence of Y isochromosomes and/or 45,X cells detected in peripheral blood does not necessarily reflect the variations of PAR genes in target tissues.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

This study shows that CNVs in PARs were present exclusively in patients with terminal AZFb+c deletions associated with the presence of Y isochromosomes and 45,X cells, and may lead to neuropsychiatric and growth disorders. In contrast, we show that men with interstitial Yq microdeletions with normal karyotypes do not have an increased risk of PAR abnormalities and of phenotypical consequences. Moreover, our results highlight the importance of performing molecular studies, which are not considered in the usual screening for patients with Yq microdeletions.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

This work was supported by the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development of Chile (FONDECYT), grant no. 1120176 (A.C.). The authors declare that no conflicting interests exist.

[Strengths and difficulties in emotional adjustment of Aymara children from the perspective of children, parents and teachers]

OBJECTIVE

To describe capabilities and difficulties in emotional adjustment experienced by children living in the Chilean Aymara city of Arica.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

610 students between 5th and 8th grade, in addition to their parents and teachers were surveyed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), comparing Aymara children to those without indigenous heritage. 25 items divided into five scales were evaluated: Emotional, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, relationship problems with peers and prosocial behaviors, classifying the respondents into three levels, Normal, Border and Abnormal.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences among the groups studied, where discrepancies in almost all cases show a slight effect (d≥|0.2|). Also, no relevant effects were observed regarding the type of assessor on the assessment of each dimension. Despite this, it was observed that Aymara children showed lower scores than their peers in "behavioral problems" according to their teachers, but this difference was also mild (partial η2>0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Aymara Children showed similar strengths and difficulties than non-Aymara students in situations that require emotional adjustment.

Transmission of HIV Drug Resistance and the Predicted Effect on Current First-line Regimens in Europe

Transmitted human immunodeficiency virus drug resistance in Europe is stable at around 8%. The impact of baseline mutation patterns on susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs should be addressed using clinical guidelines. The impact on baseline susceptibility is largest for nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Background. Numerous studies have shown that baseline drug resistance patterns may influence the outcome of antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, guidelines recommend drug resistance testing to guide the choice of initial regimen. In addition to optimizing individual patient management, these baseline resistance data enable transmitted drug resistance (TDR) to be surveyed for public health purposes. The SPREAD program systematically collects data to gain insight into TDR occurring in Europe since 2001.

Methods. Demographic, clinical, and virological data from 4140 antiretroviral-naive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected individuals from 26 countries who were newly diagnosed between 2008 and 2010 were analyzed. Evidence of TDR was defined using the WHO list for surveillance of drug resistance mutations. Prevalence of TDR was assessed over time by comparing the results to SPREAD data from 2002 to 2007. Baseline susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs was predicted using the Stanford HIVdb program version 7.0.

Results. The overall prevalence of TDR did not change significantly over time and was 8.3% (95% confidence interval, 7.2%–9.5%) in 2008–2010. The most frequent indicators of TDR were nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) mutations (4.5%), followed by nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations (2.9%) and protease inhibitor mutations (2.0%). Baseline mutations were most predictive of reduced susceptibility to initial NNRTI-based regimens: 4.5% and 6.5% of patient isolates were predicted to have resistance to regimens containing efavirenz or rilpivirine, respectively, independent of current NRTI backbones.

Conclusions. Although TDR was highest for NRTIs, the impact of baseline drug resistance patterns on susceptibility was largest for NNRTIs. The prevalence of TDR assessed by epidemiological surveys does not clearly indicate to what degree susceptibility to different drug classes is affected.

Production of versatile peroxidase from Pleurotus eryngii by solid-state fermentation using agricultural residues and evaluation of its catalytic properties

Interest in production of ligninolytic enzymes has been growing over recent years for their use in various applications such as recalcitrant pollutants bioremediation; specifically, versatile peroxidase (VP) presents a great potential due to its catalytic versatility. The proper selection of the fermentation mode and the culture medium should be an imperative to ensure a successful production by an economic and available medium that favors the process viability. VP was produced by solid-state fermentation (SSF) of Pleurotus eryngii, using the agricultural residue banana peel as growth medium; an enzymatic activity of 10,800 U L(-1) (36 U g(-1) of substrate) was detected after 18 days, whereas only 1800 U L(-1) was reached by conventional submerged fermentation (SF) with glucose-based medium. The kinetic parameters were determined by evaluating the H2O2 and Mn(2+) concentration effects on the Mn(3+)-tartrate complex formation. The results indicated that although the H2O2 inhibitory effect was observed for the enzyme produced by both media, the reaction rates for VP obtained by SSF were less impacted. This outcome suggests the presence of substances released from banana peel during the fermentation, which might exhibit a protective effect resulting in an improved kinetic behavior of the enzyme.

Pharmacokinetics of florfenicol after intravenous administration in Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxaemic sheep

Experiments in different animal species have shown that febrile conditions, induced by Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), may alter the pharmacokinetic properties of drugs. The objective was to study the effects of a LPS-induced acute-phase response (APR) model on plasma pharmacokinetics of florfenicol (FFC) after its intravenous administration in sheep. Six adult clinically healthy Suffolk Down sheep, 8 months old and 35.5 ± 2.2 kg in body weight (bw), were distributed through a crossover factorial 2 × 2 design, with 4 weeks of washout. Pairs of sheep similar in body weight were assigned to experimental groups: Group 1 (LPS) was treated with three intravenous doses of 1 μg/kg bw of E. coli LPS before FFC treatment. Group 2 (control) was treated with an equivalent volume of saline solution (SS) at similar intervals as LPS. At 24 h after the first injection of LPS or SS, an intravenous bolus of 20 mg/kg bw of FFC was administered. Blood samples (5 mL) were collected before drug administration and at different times between 0.05 and 48.0 h after treatment. FFC plasma concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography. A noncompartmental pharmacokinetic model was used for data analysis, and data were compared using a Mann-Whitney U-test. The mean values of AUC0-∞ in the endotoxaemic sheep (105.9 ± 14.3 μg·h/mL) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than values observed in healthy sheep (78.4 ± 5.2 μg·h/mL). The total mean plasma clearance (CLT ) decreased from 257.7 ± 16.9 mL·h/kg in the control group to 198.2 ± 24.1 mL·h/kg in LPS-treated sheep. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in the terminal half-life was observed in the endotoxaemic sheep (16.9 ± 3.8 h) compared to the values observed in healthy sheep (10.4 ± 3.2 h). In conclusion, the APR induced by the intravenous administration of E. coli LPS in sheep produces higher plasma concentrations of FFC due to a decrease in the total body clearance of the drug.

PP131. Regulation of heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide (ho/co) and l-arginine/nitric oxide (no) pathways by human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) in human fetal endothelium

INTRODUCTION

HO/CO and l-arginine/NO pathways are critical regulators of vascular function in early human pregnancy. HO is the rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism leading to the formation of biliverdin, which is subsequently reduced to bilirubin by biliverdin reductase, carbon monoxide, and free iron. HO-1, the inducible isoform of the enzyme, is essential to promote placental function and fetal development (1). HO-1 is also required to maintain nitric oxide synthesis (2). Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the first blastocyst-derived hormonal signal playing a significant role in implantation and placentation (3). We hypothesized that hCG upregulates HO-1 and thus positively regulates early vascular events in human pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES

In this study we used human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to demonstrate that hCG up-regulates mRNA and protein abundance of HO-1. The effect of hCG on l-arginine transport and the expression of hCAT1, the main cationic amino acid transporter involved in endothelial nitric oxide synthesis were evaluated.

METHODS

HUVEC were isolated from normal pregnancies (approval from the Institutional Review Board) by collagenase digestion and grown (37°C, 5% CO2) in medium 199 supplemented with 20% newborn and fetal calf sera. Cells were treated with hCG (0.5-100IU/mL, 0-24hours and CoCl2 (150μM, 6hours) as positive control. Total proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose membranes and incubated with monoclonal anti human HO-1 or anti β-actin and respective secondary antibody conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. Protein bands were detected by enhanced chemiluminiscence. Total RNA was isolated and cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription. PCR assays were performed in a reaction mix containing 0.5μM primers, dNTPs, Taq DNA polymerase, 2 mM MgCl2. Relative abundance of HO-1, hCAT-1 and 28S were determined. l-[(3)H]Arginine transport (100μM, 2 μCi ml(-1), 37°C, 1min) were determined in HUVECs exposed (30min) to hCG (0.5-100IU/mL) and CORM-2 (CO donor).

RESULTS

The highest level of HO-1 protein were obtained at 5IU/mL of hCG and declined at higher concentrations. hCG increased HO-1 protein abundance and maximal response was observed at 6 hours (4-fold), decreasing at 24hours exposure. These effects of hCG on HO-1 protein abundance are well correlated with changes in HO-1 mRNA regarding time of exposure and concentration of hCG. L-arginine transport and hCAT-1 mRNA were also increased (2.8-fold and 4.5-fold, respectively) by hCG.

CONCLUSION

Upregulation of HO-1 as well as the increase in l-arginine transport and hCAT-1 mRNA in HUVECs are novel effects of hCG, which occur at physiological plasma concentrations of the hormone, as those found in the first weeks of pregnancy. These changes could be relevant for the maintenance of the NO synthesis in fetal and maternal vasculature, ensuring the predominance of the vasodilator tone. These effects could be also critical for vascular remodelling of uterine circulation and placental vascular development in early stages of pregnancy, the lack of which could result in abnormal placentation as described in preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction.

Competitive adsorption of textile dyes using peat: adsorption equilibrium and kinetic studies in monosolute and bisolute systems

The purpose of this study is to investigate the adsorption by peat of four reactive textile dyes with the following commercial names: Yellow CIBA WR 200% (Y), Dark Blue CIBA WR (DB), Navy CIBA WB (N), and Red CIBA WB 150% (R), used in a cotton-polyester fabric finishing plant. The decolorization levels obtained varied between 5% and 30%, and the most significant variables were pH and ionic strength. Equilibrium studies were carried out at pH 2.8 and temperature of 25 degrees C. Maximum adsorption capacities were between 15 and 20 mg g(-1). Experimental data were fitted to the models of Langmuir. The equilibrium studies for bisolute systems were DB-R and Y-N mixtures. The Langmuir extended model indicated that there is competition for adsorption sites and without interaction between dyes. The results of the kinetic adsorption studies on monosolute and bisolute systems were fitted to the film-pore diffusion, variable diffusivity and quasi-stationary models. They showed that the diffusivity coefficients obtained varied between 2.0 x 10(-8) and 8.5 x 10(-8) cm2s(-1) when the variable diffusivity mass transfer model (VDM) was used and effective diffusion coefficient was fitted between 3.3 x 10(-7) and 56.0 x 10(-7) cm2s(-1) for the film-pore diffusion model (FPDM). The root of average of squares relative error obtained varied between 0.8% and 47.0% for the VDM and FPDM models, respectively.

Effect of Parasitism on the Pharmacokinetic Disposition of Ivermectin in Lambs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of parasitism on plasma availability and pharmacokinetic behaviour of ivermectin (IVM) in lambs. Fourteen greyface Suffolk lambs (26.8 +/- 2.2 kg body weight) were selected for this study. Seven pairs of lambs were allocated into two groups in order to obtain an approximately even distribution. Group I (non-parasitized) was pre-treated by three repeated administrations of 5 mg/kg of fenbendazole (Panacur), in order to maintain a parasite-free condition. The lambs in group II (parasitized) did not receive any anthelmintic treatment and the natural infection was sustained by an oral inoculation of infective stages of nematode parasites. After the 85-day pre-treatment period both groups of animals were treated with IVM (200 microg/kg, Ivomec) by subcutaneous injection in the shoulder area. Both groups of animals were maintained under similar conditions of feeding and management. Blood samples were collected by jugular puncture at different times between 0.5 h and 25 days post-treatment. After plasma extraction and derivatization, samples were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. A computerized kinetic analysis was performed and data were compared using the unpaired Student's t-test. The parent molecule was detected in plasma between 30 min and either 12 (parasitized) or 20 (no parasitized) days post-IVM treatment. The area under the curve values of the parasitized group (75.2 +/- 15.5 ng x d/ml) were significantly lower that those observed in the parasite-free group (134.3 +/- 15.7 ng x d/ml). The mean residence time (MRT) of the parasitized group (2.93 +/- 0.16 days) was significantly lower than the MRT of healthy group (3.93 +/- 0.29 days). The results of this study have shown that a change in body condition followed by a parasitic infection is associated with significant changes in plasma disposition of IVM when it is administered subcutaneously to parasitized lambs. Therefore, variations in the condition induced by parasitism should be considered when these anthelmintics are used for treating parasitized animals.

Knowledge-based fuzzy system for diagnosis and control of an integrated biological wastewater treatment process

A supervisory expert system based on fuzzy logic rules was developed for diagnosis and control of a laboratory- scale plant comprising anaerobic digestion and anoxic/aerobic modules for combined high rate biological N and C removal. The design and implementation of a computational environment in LabVIEW for data acquisition, plant operation and distributed equipment control is described. A step increase in ammonia concentration from 20 to 60 mg N/L was applied during a trial period of 73 h. Recycle flow rate from the aerobic to the anoxic module and bypass flow rate from the influent directly to the anoxic reactor were the output variables of the fuzzy system. They were automatically changed (from 34 to 111 L/day and from 8 to 13 L/day, respectively), when new plant conditions were recognised by the expert system. Denitrification efficiency higher than 85% was achieved 30 h after the disturbance and 15 h after the system response at an HRT as low as 1.5 h. Nitrification efficiency gradually increased from 12 to 50% at an HRT of 3 h. The system proved to react properly in order to set adequate operating conditions that led to timely and efficient recovery of N and C removal rates.

Adsorption of dyes using peat: equilibrium and kinetic studies

In recent years, adsorption has been accepted as one of the most appropriate processes for decolorization of wastewaters. This paper presents experimental results on application of peat for removal of structurally diverse dyes (azo, oxazine, triphenylmethane, thiazine and others) with emphasis on relevant factors such as the adsorbate-adsorbent chemical properties and chemical interaction as well as adsorption conditions. The equilibrium experimental results were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms to obtain the characteristic parameters of each model. According to the evaluation using the Langmuir equation, the maximum sorption capacity of basic dyes at 22 degrees C was 667 (mg g(-1)) for Basic Blue 24, 526 (mg g(-1)) for Basic Green 4 and 714 (mg g(-1)) for Basic Violet 4. On the other hand for Acid Black 1 it was only 25 (mg g(-1)). Batch kinetics studies were undertaken and the data evaluated in compliance with chemical sorption mechanisms. For all of the systems studied the pseudo-second order model provided the best correlation of the kinetic experimental data. A film-pore double resistance diffusion model for mass transfer has also been used in this study to determine the effective diffusivity, Deff, for the adsorption of basic dyes in to peat.

Plasma profiles of ivermectin in horses following oral or intramuscular administration

A study was undertaken in order to evaluate and compare ivermectin's (IVM) plasma disposition kinetic parameters after oral or intramuscular (IM) administration in horses. Ten clinically healthy adult horses, weighing 380-496 kg body weight (BW), were allocated to two experimental groups of five horses. Group I, was treated with an oral paste formulation of IVM at the manufacturer's recommended dose of 0.2 mg/kg BW. Group II, was treated IM with an injectable 1% formulation of IVM at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg BW. Blood samples were collected by jugular puncture at different times between 0.5 h and 75 days post-treatment. After plasma extraction and derivatization, samples were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. A computerized kinetic analysis was performed, and data were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The parent molecule was detected in plasma between 30 min and either 20 (oral) or 40 (IM) days post-treatment. Significant differences were found for the time corresponding to peak plasma concentrations (tmax) and for absorption half-life. Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) of 51.3 +/- 16.1 ng/ml (mean +/- SD) were obtained after oral administration and of 31.4 +/- 6.0 ng/ml for the IM route. The values for area under concentration-time curve were 137.1 +/- 35.9 ng day/ml for the group treated orally, and 303.2 +/- 4.3 ng day/ml for the IM treated group. The mean plasma residence times were 4.2 +/- 0.4 and 8.9 +/- 0.7 days for oral and IM-treated groups, respectively. The results of this study show that the route of administration considerably affects the disposition of IVM. A significant difference in bioavailabilty and half-life of elimination of IVM was observed after IM administration compared with oral administration. A close relationship between pharmacokinetic profiles and the clinical efficacy of IVM was established.

In vitro degradation of a polymeric dye (Poly R-478) by manganese peroxidase

The aim of this study is the evaluation of the enzymatic action of the ligninolytic enzyme manganese peroxidase (MnP), through a suitable addition of H(2)O(2), as a feasible system for the in vitro degradation of complex structures. For this purpose, a highly recalcitrant polymeric dye (Poly R-478) was selected as a model compound. An amperometric technique was used to determine the H(2)O(2) requirement in the decolorization by nonpurified MnP. Two H(2)O(2) supply strategies-fed-batch (every hour) or semicontinuous (every 5 min)-were applied. The addition of H(2)O(2) in pulses led to a limited decolorization after the pulses and the instantaneous consumption or decomposition of H(2)O(2). Therefore, this way of addition may limit the actual H(2)O(2) concentration in the reaction mixture. In contrast, the semicontinuous strategy maintained lower and prolonged concentrations of H(2)O(2), which allowed a clearly greater decolorization (48% after 2 h). In addition, the effect of Mn(+2) concentration on the decolorization efficiency was investigated to establish the optimal application of the MnP-oxidative system. The enzymatic treatment provoked not only the destruction of the chromophoric groups but also a noticeable breakdown of the chemical structure of the dye. In experiments with pure enzyme, MnP proved to be the main factor responsible for the dye decolorization.

Effect of the aromatase inhibitor, MEN 11066, on growth of two different MCF-7 sublines

The racemate compound MEN 11066 (1-[(benzofuran-2-yl)(4'-cyanophenyl)methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole) and its enantiomers, (+)-MEN 11623 and (-)-MEN 11622, showed potent and selective aromatase activity on human placental microsomes. In addition, to better evaluate their potency as anticancer drugs, the compounds were assayed on testosterone-induced cell proliferation to measure their ability in inhibiting oestrogen-dependent tumour growth. Two different sublines originated from the human breast carcinoma MCF-7 were used. One, named MCF-7(tumour aromatase) (TA), that had maintained its intrinsic aromatase activity, was more sensitive to estradiol or testosterone-induced growth than the second subline named MCF-7(human placental aromatase) (hPA). The latter had been transfected with the human placental aromatase cDNA, after recognizing that the parental cells had aromatase activity reduced to undetectable levels. The MEN compounds completely reverted the testosterone-induced proliferation in both MCF-7(TA) and MCF-7(hPA) cells, while they did not affect the estradiol-triggered proliferation as a proof of their specificity for aromatase enzyme. Interestingly, MCF-7(TA) cells were more susceptible to the effects of aromatase inhibitors than the MCF-7(hPA) cell. These data suggest the efficacy of aromatase inhibitors in breast cancer when the growth dependency from oestrogen is high and a relatively low aromatase activity may be extremely important for tumour development.

Stable oscillating nonlinear beams in square-wave-biased photorefractives

We demonstrate experimentally that, in a paraelectric, nonstationary boundary conditions can dynamically halt the intrinsic instability of quasi-steady-state photorefractive self-trapping, driving beam evolution into a stable oscillating two-soliton-state configuration.

Monitoring the quality of the marine environment

As part of the monitoring program from Instituto Hidrográfico, since 1981 sediment and water samples have been collected from four different estuarine areas located along the continental coast of Portugal. The concentrations of different parameters were measured in the water and sediment samples. After normalization, the concentrations of chromium, mercury, lead and zinc in the sediments from the different areas were compared.

The role of tachykinins via NK1 receptors in progression of human gliomas

In recent years, it has become evident that astrocytes harbor functional receptors to many neurotransmitters. including substance P (SP), an undecapeptide belonging to the tachykinin family of neuropeptides. SP is an important stimulus for reactive astrocytes in CNS development, infection and injury, and provides a link for bi-directional interactions between glial cells and neurons. In brain tumors, malignant glial cells originating from astrocytes, via NK1 receptors, are triggered by tachykinins, SP and neurokinin A (NKA), to release soluble mediators, in particular cytokines, and increase their proliferative rate. In this paper, we review the results obtained in in vitro and in vivo studies on the role of SP as an inducer of human glioma responses that may be relevant for tumor progression. In addition, the presence of SP and the expression of NK1 receptors in glioma explants have been examined. We discuss the possible use of selective NK1 receptor antagonists as a therapeutic approach to treat malignant gliomas.

Treatment of skin carcinomas of the face by high-dose-rate brachytherapy and custom-made surface molds

PURPOSE

To analyze the results obtained in a prospective group of patients with basal or squamous cell skin carcinomas of the face treated by high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy via custom-made surface molds.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A total of 136 patients with basal or squamous cell carcinomas of the face were treated between March 1992 and March 1997 by surface molds and HDR brachytherapy with iridium-192. Nineteen patients were treated with standard Brock applicators and 117 patients with custom-made polymethyl methacrylate applicators, built over a plaster mold obtained of the patient's face. Minimum dose administered to the tumor was 6000 to 6500 cGy in 33 to 36 fractions at 180 cGy/fraction in lesions of up to 4 cm. Lesions greater than 4 cm were boosted up to 7500-8000 cGy after a 3-week pause.

RESULTS

With the custom-made surface molds, the dose distribution was uniform in the surface of the skin and at 5 mm depth in the whole area of the applicator. Differences between the areas of maximum and minimum dose at this depth never reached values higher than 5% of the prescribed dose. At the edges of the custom-made molds dose gradient was sharp, with the detected dose at 5 mm from the applicator being negligible. All the patients were complete responders. There were 3 local recurrences, 1/73 patients treated for primary tumor and 2/63 patients treated for recurrent tumor. Actuarial local control at 5 years for all patients was 98%, for those patients with primary tumors 99%, and for recurrent patients 87%. The treatment tolerance was excellent in all cases. No severe, early, or late, complications were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiotherapy is a highly effective treatment of skin carcinomas of the face. Custom-made molds, to be used in conjunction with HDR brachytherapy equipment, make possible a uniform dose distribution, with a sharp dose gradient in the limits of applicators. Custom-made surface molds are easy and safe to use, and they fit very accurately for daily treatment. Local control is excellent with minimal sequelae or complications. Probably they will become the standard way of treatment of face skin carcinomas in the near future.

Different fungal manganese-oxidizing peroxidases: a comparison between Bjerkandera sp. and Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Two manganese-oxidizing peroxidases differing in glycosylation degree were purified from fermenter cultures of Bjerkandera sp. They were characterized and compared with the three manganese-oxidizing peroxidase isoenzymes obtained from the well-known ligninolytic fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. All the enzymes showed similar molecular masses but those from P. chrysosporium had less acidic isoelectric point. Moreover, the latter strictly required Mn2+ to oxidize phenolic substrates whereas the Bjerkandera peroxidases had both Mn-mediated and Mn-independent activity on phenolic and non-phenolic aromatic substrates. Taking into account these results, and those reported for Bjerkandera adusta and different Pleurotus species, we concluded that two different types of Mn(2+)-oxidizing peroxidases are secreted by ligninolytic fungi.

Anti-tumour activity of tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists on human glioma U373 MG xenograft

Astrocytes harbour functional receptors to many neurotransmitters, including substance P (SP), an undecapeptide belonging to the tachykinin family of peptide transmitters. SP activates malignant glial cells to induce cytokine release and proliferation, both responses being relevant for tumour progression. In tumours developed in nude mice transplanted subcutaneously (s.c.) to U373 MG human glioma cells, the presence of SP was observed at immunohistochemistry. Although the administration of exogenous SP did not significantly affect the size or development of U373 MG xenograft, a role of SP in supporting glioma progression in vivo was highlighted by the tumour growth inhibition induced by highly specific and selective human tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists (MEN 11467 and MEN 11149). The anti-tumour activity of MEN 11467 was observed both with s.c. or intravenous treatments and was partially reverted by the concomitant administration of exogenous SP. Doxorubicin did not show any activity in controlling U373 MG growth in this in vivo model. A novel therapeutic approach to treat malignant gliomas with tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonists is suggested by these findings.