Incorporation of Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae) leaf extract into phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol liposomes improves its anti-inflammatory effect in vivo

The aerial parts of Baccharis dracunculifolia (BdE) is used in the Brazilian folk medicine to treat inflammatory conditions. Here we examined the ability of free and liposomal BdE to modulate reactive oxygen species generation in human neutrophils in vitro and zymosan-induced acute joint inflammation in Wistar rats. We prepared biocompatible liposomes of soya phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol with low diameter, homogeneous size distribution, and neutral surface charge. Free BdE decreased joint swelling, total leucocyte and neutrophil infiltration, and the synovial levels of tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukins 6 and 1β. Incorporation of BdE into liposomes preserved its capacity to inhibit the neutrophil superoxide anion and total reactive oxygen species generation, and improved its anti-inflammatory effect in vivo by decreasing the effective BdE dose by nearly sixfold. The same liposome type lowered the effective dose of caffeic acid by nearly sixteenfold. Therefore, incorporation of BdE into phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol liposomes improves its anti-inflammatory effect.     

The use of dilatometry aiming to evaluate the metallurgical aspect of coil slump in a hot-rolled medium carbon steel

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The hot coil slump is a recurrent problem in the manufacturing process of medium and high equivalent carbon steel plates. Even with the success of the...     

Interaction between asymmetrical damping and geometrical nonlinearity in vehicle suspension systems improves comfort

Nonlinear Dynamics - This work explores the role of asymmetrical damping and geometrical nonlinearities in the suspension system of a simplified vehicle model in order to improve comfort. Improving...     

Generative Art with Swarm Landscapes

We present a generative swarm art project that creates 3D animations by running a Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm over synthetic landscapes produced by an objective function. Different kinds of functions are explored, including mathematical expressions, Perlin noise-based terrain, and several image-based procedures. A method for displaying the particle swarm exploring the search space in aesthetically pleasing ways is described. Several experiments are detailed and analyzed and a number of interesting visual artifacts are highlighted.     

Catalytic degradation of polyethylene evaluated by TG

HZSM-5 zeolite was screened as catalyst for high density polyethylene degradation at 450C, under nitrogen static atmosphere. Two different samples were studied in this condition: HDPE alone and mixed with HZSM-5. The reactor was connected on line to an HP 5890-II gas Chromatograph. Sample degradation was investigated using a Perkin-Elmer Delta 7 Thermobalance, from room temperature to 800C, with heating rates of 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0C min^–1. From TG curves, the activation energies, calculated using an integral kinetic method, decreased 60.6% in the presence of the zeolite.This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and CoordenaÇÃo de Apoio ao Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES).     

Tris(triphenylphosphine)rhodium cyano and triphenylcyanoborate complexes: Structures and a DFT study

The structures of [Rh(CN)(PPh₃)₃](EtOH) (1), [Rh(NCBPh₃)(PPh₃)₃] (2), and [Rh(CNBPh₃)(PPh₃)₃] (3) are reported together with a density functional theory (DFT) study of the model compounds [Rh(NCBH₃)(PH₃)₃] and [Rh(CNBH₃)(PH₃)₃]. Compound 1 crystallizes in space group Pc with a = 10.4798(15) Å, b = 12.5410(18) Å, c = 19.974(3) Å and = 112.215(6)°; compound 2 crystallizes in space group with a = 12.929(2) Å, b = 14.362(2) Å, c = 17.575(3) Å and = 92.544(3)°, = 90.214(3)°, = 113.831(3)°; compound 3 crystallizes in space group with a = 12.915(2), b = 14.296(2), c = 17.664(3) Å and = 92.469(3)°, = 90.088(3)°, = 113.768(3)°. All three complexes show slight tetrahedral distortion from ideal square planar geometry (largest for 1). Differences in the reactivity and stability of 2 and 3 are interpreted according to the results of a density functional theory study.     

5α‐Androst‐3‐en‐17‐one oxime

The title compound, C₁₉H₂₉NO, is a C17‐oxime derivative of a potent aromatase inhibitor, which surprisingly has been found to have no inhibitory power. It crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. C=N—O—H...N hydrogen bonds link pairs of molecules to form dimers almost parallel to the bc plane. Cohesion of the structure is also due to another three C—H...O hydrogen bonds directed along the a axis. This hydrogen‐bonding scheme can be correlated to the almost complete loss of inhibitory power of the title compound.     

Mammalian cytosolic glutathione transferases

Glutathione Transferases (GSTs) are crucial enzymes in the cell detoxification process catalyzing the nucleophilic attack of glutathione (GSH) on toxic electrophilic substrates and producing a less dangerous compound. GSTs studies are of great importance since they have been implicated in the development of drug resistance in tumoral cells and are related to human diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, atherosclerois, liver cirrhosis, aging and cataract formation. In this review we start by providing an evolutionary perspective of the mammalian cytosolic GSTs known to date. Later on we focus on the more abundant classes alpha, mu and pi and their structure, catalysis, metabolic associated functions, drug resistance relation and inhibition methods. Finally, we introduce the recent insights on the GST class zeta from a metabolic perspective.