A Natural Alternative Treatment for Urinary Tract Infections: Itxasol©, the Importance of the Formulation

Genito-urinary tract infections have a high incidence in the general population, being more prevalent among women than men. These diseases are usually treated with antibiotics, but very frequently, they are recurrent and lead to the creation of resistance and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. For this reason, it is necessary to develop new compounds for their treatment. In this work, our objective is to review the characteristics of the compounds of a new formulation called Itxasol© that is prescribed as an adjuvant for the treatment of UTIs and composed of β-arbutin, umbelliferon and n-acetyl cysteine. This formulation, based on biomimetic principles, makes Itxasol© a broad-spectrum antibiotic with bactericidal, bacteriostatic and antifungal properties that is capable of destroying the biofilm and stopping its formation. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, without the adverse effects associated with the recurrent use of antibiotics that leads to renal nephrotoxicity and other side effects. All these characteristics make Itxasol© an ideal candidate for the treatment of UTIs since it behaves like an antibiotic and with better characteristics than other adjuvants, such as D-mannose and cranberry extracts.     

Vocal Tract Area Function for Vowels Using Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows the vocal tract (VT) area function to be determined for a normal male speaker. METHOD: VT shapes were acquired using MRI during sustained production of French points vowels: /i/, /a/, /u/. Cross-sectional areas were measured from a series of planes spaced at intervals of 1 cm along the length of the VT and were used as input in a previously described VT model to simulate the vowels. The first three formant frequencies, F1, F2, and F3, computed from the MRI-measured VT model were compared with subject's natural formant frequencies. RESULTS: Including piriform sinuses, calculated formants differed from measured formants F1, F2, and F3, respectively, for /i/ by -3.5%, +7.7%, and +27.5%; for /a/ by +11% +19.5%, and -4.3%; and for /u/ by +.9%, +23.4%, and +9.6%. Excluding piriform sinuses, calculated formants differed from measured formants F1, F2, and F3, respectively, for /i/ by -3.5%, +12%, and +28%, and for /u/ by +10.1%, +26.8%, and +13.7% The piriform sinuses were not visualized for /a/ on MRI. CONCLUSIONS: MRI is a noninvasive technique that allows VT imaging and determination of VT area function for a normal male speaker. Several possible sources of discrepancies are as follows: variability of the articulation, difficulties in assessment of VT wall boundaries, role of the piriform sinuses, and VT length.     

Laryngeal and pharyngeal behavior in countertenor and baritone singing—A videofiberscopic study

Changes in vocal tract configuration during singing were studied in four semiprofessional countertenors and one professional bass-baritone, by means of fiberoptic laryngoscopy. All of the countertenors showed a marked narrowing of the lower pharynx with increasing pitch when they used their countertenor voice (CT voice) but only a slight narrowing when using their baritone voice (B voice). The bass-baritone's pharynx remained unchanged with increasing pitch. Increasing loudness gave a widening of the pharynx in three of the four countertenors' CT voices, whereas no change was observed for the countertenors' B voices or for the bass-baritone voice. Vocal fold length seemed to decrease in one countertenor's B voice and in the bass-baritone with increasing loudness. Thus, the countertenors in this study exhibit several characteristic patterns of vocal tract gestures in countertenor voice that differ from both their own baritone voices and from the bass-baritone.     

Pleurotus spp. Mycelia Enriched in Magnesium and Zinc Salts as a Potential Functional Food

Worldwide, mushrooms belonging to the Pleurotus spp. such as P. citrinopileatus, P. djamor, and P. pulmonarius are highly valued not only for their taste and aroma but also for their health-promoting properties. These species are rich in bioelements, vitamins, and above all, compounds that exhibit immunostimulatory activity. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine the effect of the supplementation of culture media using inorganic Mg and Zn salts. This is the first study to establish the bioavailability of the selected elements (Mg and Zn) and anions (Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻) from the enriched biomass by means of the extraction of lyophilized mycelium into artificial digestive juices. The following salts were added to the liquid Oddoux medium: ZnSO₄·7H₂O, ZnCl₂, MgSO₄·7H₂O or MgCl₂·6H₂O. The bioelements, anions and organic compounds in the obtained biomass were determined. The addition of Zn and Mg salts to the media increased the production of biomass by 30% and increased the bioaccumulation of the inorganic salts. Maintaining in vitro cultures under optimized and controlled conditions produced mycelium with a better composition and health properties than otherwise. Such enriched biomass may be classified as potential functional foods, aiding in overcoming deficiencies of elements and organic compounds with biological activity in humans.     

胭脂鱼消化道形态与组织学结构特征

为了解胭脂鱼消化道结构特点与其食性的相关性, 采用解剖及石蜡切片技术观察分析了胭脂鱼消化道形态及组织学结构特征. 结果显示 胭脂鱼消化道中无胃, 主要由口咽腔、食道及肠组成. 口咽腔内具短小的舌, 食道粗短, 肠道较长且有3个盘曲, 肠指数为2.31±0.10. 口咽腔表面被覆复层扁平上皮, 内分布有较多味蕾, 起食物的选择和甄别作用. 食道和肠道均由黏膜层、黏膜下层、肌层和浆膜层构成. 食道肌层发达, 黏膜层上皮内有较多杯状细胞, 主要起食物的润滑和过渡作用; 肠道是胭脂鱼消化道行使消化吸收功能的主要部位, 其黏膜层上皮为单层柱状上皮, 内有杯状细胞分布, 游离面具明显的纹状缘, 且前、中肠的肠径、肌层厚度和黏膜褶皱高度均显著高于后肠, 表明前、中肠可能具有更强的消化吸收作用. 胭脂鱼消化道形态及组织学结构特点与其杂食食性相适应.     

On problem of ultrasensitive determination of man-made plutonium in living species

To improve the sensitivity of the method of Pu determination in specimens we applied two additional steps of chemical separation of Pu from U. After the usual chemical separation of Pu we used second step with ion-exchange column, where the ions of U⁴⁺ were absorbed by sorbent and Pu³⁺ ions remains in solution. For converting Plutonium to Pu³⁺ state the electrochemical procedure has been used. After the electrochemical separation procedure the solution was deposited onto quartz glass. Then the quartz glass plates were inserted into the gas mixture flow (SOCL₂+air) at the temperature 650°C. Such a procedure extracts ≥90% U from Pu layer. Now we provide the chemical separation of Pu from U by a factor ≥10⁷. It means that now we are able to perform the routine Pu analysis at the level of sensitivity 10⁻¹⁴–10⁻¹⁵ g/g.

By using combined n-γ activation technique we can determine the Pu content in the small fragments of tissues of living species with the weight as small as 0,05-0,1 gram. The new technique could be used in routine analysis of Pu in population of heavily Pu damaged regions (Chernobyl, Ural Region, Semipalatinsk).     

The Role of Serotonin Neurotransmission in Gastrointestinal Tract and Pharmacotherapy

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) is a neurotransmitter in both the central nervous system and peripheral structures, acting also as a hormone in platelets. Although its concentration in the gut covers >90% of all organism resources, serotonin is mainly known as a neurotransmitter that takes part in the pathology of mental diseases. Serotonin modulates not only CNS neurons, but also pain transmission and platelet aggregation. In the periphery, 5-HT influences muscle motility in the gut, bronchi, uterus, and vessels directly and through neurons. Serotonin synthesis starts from hydroxylation of orally delivered tryptophan, followed by decarboxylation. Serotonin acts via numerous types of receptors and clinically plays a role in several neural, mental, and other chronic disorders, such as migraine, carcinoid syndrome, and some dysfunctions of the alimentary system. 5-HT acts as a paracrine hormone and growth factor. 5-HT receptors in both the brain and gut are targets for drugs modifying serotonin neurotransmission. The aim of the present article is to review the 5-HT receptors in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to determine the role of serotonin in GI physiology and pathology, including known GI diseases and the role of serotonin in GI pharmacotherapy.     

荧光光谱法研究洛美沙星与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用

荧光光谱法研究了新型氟喹诺酮药物洛美沙星与牛血清白蛋白的相互作用,求得结合常数为K=1.4×106,结合位点数为n=1.21.根据Forster非辐射能量转移机制,测定了实验条件下洛美沙星与牛血清白蛋白相互结合时,能量给体-受体间的作用距离(r=4.97nm)和能量转移效率(E=0.050)表明,洛美沙星与牛血清白蛋白分子间存在较强的结合作用,为探讨药物洛美沙星在生物体内与蛋白质的作用机理和生物学效应提供了理论依据.     

Simulated Gastric and Intestinal Fluid Electrolyte Solutions as an Environment for the Adsorption of Apple Polyphenols onto β-Glucan

Interactions with dietary fibers in the gastrointestinal tract might affect the potential bioactivities of phenolic compounds. In this study, the interactions between apple phenolic compounds and β-glucan (a dietary fiber) were studied by studying the adsorption process in simulated gastric and intestinal fluid electrolyte solutions. Phenolic compounds were extracted from apples, adsorbed onto β-glucan (2 h, 37 °C, in gastric or intestinal fluid electrolyte solutions), and determined using high performance liquid chromatography. Phenolic compounds (flavan-3-ols, flavonols, phenolic acids, and dihydrochalcone) were stable in the gastric fluid (pH 3). In the intestinal fluid (pH 7), flavan-3-ols were not found and chlorogenic acid isomerized. Polyphenols from the apple peel (up to 182 and 897 mg g⁻¹) and flesh (up to 28 and 7 mg g⁻¹) were adsorbed onto β-glucan in the gastric and intestinal fluids, respectively. The adsorption was affected by the initial concentration of the polyphenols and β-glucan and by the environment (either gastric or intestinal fluid electrolyte solution). By increasing the initial polyphenol amount, the quantity of adsorbed polyphenols increased. Increasing the amount of β-glucan decreased the amount adsorbed. The results can be helpful in explaining the fate of phenolic compounds in the gastrointestinal tract.