Oxygen and Nitrogen Reactive Species Are Effectively Scavenged by Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Water Extract

Isabel F. Almeida,Eduarda Fernandes,José L.F.C. Lima,Patrícia Valentão,Paula B. Andrade,Rosa M. Seabra,P.C. Costa,M.F. Bahia 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.1

Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Family Myrtaceae) is a plant of Australian origin, with a reported therapeutic use in airway inflammatory diseases. Considering that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an effective scavenging activity against these reactive species may contribute for the therapeutic effect of this plant. In the present study, a water extract of E. globulus leaves was evaluated for its putative in vitro scavenging effects on ROS (HO·, O2·−, ROO·, and H2O2) and RNS (·NO and ONOO−) and on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extract's phenolic composition were also performed. The Eucalyptus leaf water extract presented a remarkable capacity to scavenge all the reactive species tested, with all the 50% inhibitory concentrations being found at the μg/mL level. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of polyphenols such as flavonoids (rutin and quercitrin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid and ellagic acid), which may be partially responsible for the observed antioxidant activity. These observations provide further support, beyond the well-known antibacterial and antiviral activities of the Eucalyptus plant, for its reported use in traditional medicine such as in the treatment of airway inflammatory diseases, considering the important role of ROS and RNS in the inflammatory process, although further studies are needed to prove the bioavailability of the antioxidants/antibacterial compounds of the extract as well as the ability of the active compounds to reach specific tissues and to act in them.

Oxygen and Nitrogen Reactive Species Are Effectively Scavenged by Eucalyptus globulus Leaf Water Extract

Almeida, Isabel F.,Fernandes, Eduarda,Lima, Jose L.F.C.,Valentao, Patricia,Andrade, Paula B.,Seabra, Rosa M.,Costa, P.C.,Bahia, M.F. The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.1

Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Family Myrtaceae) is a plant of Australian origin, with a reported therapeutic use in airway inflammatory diseases. Considering that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an effective scavenging activity against these reactive species may contribute for the therapeutic effect of this plant. In the present study, a water extract of E. globulus leaves was evaluated for its putative in vitro scavenging effects on ROS ($HO^{\cdot}$, ${O_2}^{\cdot-}$, $ROO^{\cdot}$, and $H_2O_2$) and RNS ($^{\cdot}NO$ and $ONOO^-$) and on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the extract's phenolic composition were also performed. The Eucalyptus leaf water extract presented a remarkable capacity to scavenge all the reactive species tested, with all the 50% inhibitory concentrations being found at the ${\mu}g/mL$ level. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of polyphenols such as flavonoids (rutin and quercitrin) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid and ellagic acid), which may be partially responsible for the observed antioxidant activity. These observations provide further support, beyond the well-known antibacterial and antiviral activities of the Eucalyptus plant, for its reported use in traditional medicine such as in the treatment of airway inflammatory diseases, considering the important role of ROS and RNS in the inflammatory process, although further studies are needed to prove the bioavailability of the antioxidants/antibacterial compounds of the extract as well as the ability of the active compounds to reach specific tissues and to act in them.

Prevalent Signs and Symptoms in Patients with Skin Cancer and Nursing Diagnoses

Lisboa, Isabel Neves Duarte,de Azevedo Macena, Monica Suela,da Conceicao Dias Fernandes, Maria Isabel,de Almeida Medeiros, Ana Beatriz,de Lima, Cyndi Fernandes,de Carvalho Lira, Ana Luisa Brandao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.7

Background: Skin cancer has a remarkable importance given the high incidence in the population. In Brazil, it is estimated that there were 98,420 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer among men and 83,710 new cases among women in 2014. Objectives: To verify signs and symptoms present in patients with skin neoplasms according to the literature and relate them to the nursing diagnoses of NANDA International. Materials and Methods: Integrative literature review carried out from March to May 2015 in the databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, SCOPUS, National Library of Medicine and Nattional Institutes of Health, Latin American and Caribbean Sciences of Health and Web of Science. The descriptors used were: 'Signs and Symptoms' and 'Skin Neoplasms'. Sixteen articles were identified as the final sample. After review, the signs and symptoms of skin cancer identified in the literature were related to the defining characteristics present in NANDA International, with the aim to trace possible nursing diagnoses. Results: The most prevalent signs and symptoms were: asymmetric and well circumscribed nodules with irregular borders; speckles with modified color aspect; ulcerations; blisters; pain; itching; and bleeding. The principal nursing diagnoses outlined were: risk for impaired skin integrity; impaired skin integrity; acute pain; risk of shock; and impaired comfort. Conclusions: The identification of signs and symptoms present in patients with skin cancer and the relationships of these with the nursing diagnoses of NANDA International provide a basis for qualified and systematized nursing care to this clientele.

Identification and Functional Characterization of Endoplasmic Reticulum-associated mannosidases in the human pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans

Catia Isabel Almeida Mota,Eun Jung Thak,Hyun Ah Kang 한국당과학회 2021 한국당과학회 학술대회 Vol.2021 No.01

Eukaryotes evolved a N-glycan-dependent endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) pathway to monitor protein folding (1). Specific mannose trimming of the protein-bound oligosaccharide is essential for degradation of misfolded proteins (2). The human-pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans has a unique N-linked glycosylation pathway lacking glucosyltransferases but carrying multiple mannosidases (3). To investigate the molecular assembly of C. neoformans specific-ERAD pathway and its impact on pathogenicity, we disrupted the homologue genes to MNS1 (MNS1A and MNS1B), MNL1 and MNL2. The N-glycan profiles indicated MNS1A and MNS1B as a major and minor α-mannosidases, respectively. Whereas the double deletion of MNS1A and MNS1B generated mild growth retardation under several stress conditions, the simultaneous deletion of MNL1 and MNL2, encoding putative ERAD-associated mannosidases, resulted in hypersensitivity to ER, cell wall and osmostress. Notably, it also showed rather increased resistance to high temperature, caffeine and fluconazole. In vitro analysis of virulence factors revealed reduced capsule mass in all the constructed mutants, suggesting attenuation of virulence. Interestingly, mnl1Δmnl2Δ cells did not survive in capsule-inducing media, implying an essential role of the ERAD pathway under specific growth conditions. Overall, our results show the importance of ERAD pathway in protein quality control system for C. neoformans survival and virulence.

Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oils of Thymbra capitata, Origanum vulgare, Thymus mastichina and Calamintha baetica

Ludovina Galego,Valentim Almeida,Vera Goncalves,Margarida Costa,Isabel Monteiro,Fabiola Matos,Graca Miguel,Amilcar Duarte 한국원예학회 2006 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

Poster Session : PS 0012 ; Immunology : Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Related to Periaortitis - When to Think of It?

( Helena Lobo Martns ),( Nadejda Potlog ),( Antonio Marinho ),( Isabel Almeida ),( Carlos Vasconcelos ) 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술발표논문집 Vol.2014 No.1

Retroperitoneal fi brosis (RF) is a rare condition characterized by the presence of infl ammatory and fi brous retroperitoneal tissue that may be idiopathic or secondary to other causes. Idiopathic RF is part of the spectrum of chronic periaortitis, a condition characterized by infl ammation and fi brosis surrounding the aorta and iliac arteries. The pathogenesis of idiopathic retroperitoneal fi brosis is unclear. The authors report the case of a 66 year-old woman with RF diagnosis related to infrarenal infl ammatory aortitis in 2009, following the study of a hypochromic microcytic anemia and increased infl ammatory parameters, confi rmed by imaging. She has a history of stenosing ileal Crohn`s disease, underwent surgery in 2006, with recurrence of ileal disease two years ago, treated and currently stable. As other relevant pathological antecedents, she contacted patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. She starting anti-tuberculosis therapeutic in September 2009 for nine months, because she has positive Mantoux test. The patient began high-dose corticosteroids with clinical benefi t, however with reduction in dose to about 20mg/day clinical worsening was observed with marked increase in infl ammatory parameters. Azathioprine was added during a short period due to myelosuppression. Subsequently started methotrexate with good response at an early stage but with need to change to cyclosporine due to worsening of infl ammatory parameters. Although there was an initial response to this drug, a sustained analytical and clinical response could only be achieved through the introduction of anti-TNF-alpha (Infl iximab). It was systematically excluded neoplastic, infectious, autoimmune and other infl ammatory diseases. The authors argue the importance of knowing and diagnosing rare diseases such as retroperitoneal fi brosis. It presents insidiously, often making the diagnosis diffi cult, thus you need to think about these diseases for successful diagnose. We point out the importance of knowing the biological drugs as potential therapeutic weapons in these cases.

Poster Session : PS 0767 ; Rheumatology ; Arthritis in Older Man: Don`t Forget Paraneoplastic Syndromes

( Helena Martins ),( Tomas Abrantes Da Fonseca ),( Teresa Sequeira ),( Isabel Almeida ),( Antonio Marinho ),( Carlos Vasconcelos ) 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술발표논문집 Vol.2014 No.1

The association of rheumatic manifestations with cancer is now well established. There are various rheumatological diseases that can be manifested as paraneoplastic syndromes, i. e. precede or occur simultaneously with different types of tumors, without local evidence of malignancy and regress after effective treatment of the tumor. In fact, the recognition of rheumatic symptoms as the fi rst translation of malignancy is essential for early treatment of the underlying tumor. The authors present a case of a 66 year-old man with no history of relevant disease nor family history of psoriasisor rheumatic diseases, with initial manifestation of chronic oligoarticular frame of the knees with severe systemic infi ammatory component associated with B symptoms, which evolved into symmetric infiammatory polyarthritis and morning stiffness. Analytically, without anemia or lymphopenia, increased infiammatory parameters, hemosedimentation velocity and C-reactive protein; Negative immunological study, including RF and anti-CCP, interpreted as probable seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. Excluded tuberculosis. Initially treated with NSAIDs, corticosteroids and methotrexate (MTX) without much articular benefi t, subsequently conducted infi ltrations and began salazopyrin (SSZ), with some clinical improvement. Onset of oral ulcers, whose biopsy revealed epidermoid carcinoma. Tumor with lymph node metastasis, requiring dissection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, with clear improvement of the arthritis afterwards. Assumed paraneoplastic arthritis. Disease currently in remission, sporadically medicated only with NSAIDs. The relationship between malignancy and rheumatic manifestations is not simple. It is often diffi cult to identify the underlying tumor if not thinking about it, since the rheumatic paraneoplastic syndromes mimic well the idiopathic situations. On the other hand, the exhaustive search for a neoplasm in the initial assessment of rheumatic diseases is not recommended unless it is a high risk patient. Additionally, paraneoplastic arthritis may have independent natural history of tumors, thus the diagnosis is always a challenge.

Poster Session : PS 0703 ; Rheumatology ; Remission of Sweet Syndrome Secondary to Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated with Etanercept

( Helena Lobo Martins ),( Tomas Abrantes Da Fonseca ),( Teresa Sequeira ),( Isabel Almeida ),( Antonio Marinho ),( Carlos Vasconcelos ) 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술발표논문집 Vol.2014 No.1

Sweet`s syndrome (SS) is the most common acute neutrophilic dermatosis (ND), often idiopathic although it is associated with a wide range of diseases, especially neoplastic, infi ammatory and infectious. We report the case of SS occurring on a 43-year-old woman with a known seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) since 20 year-old. After diagnosis, was treated by NSAIDs, methotrexate (MTX) and gold salts with complete remission. Medication was suspended. In 2002, develops disabling symmetric polyarthritis, unresponsive to corticosteroids, NSAIDs and sulfasalazine. MTX was avoided due to chronic cholestasis (autoantibodies to primary biliary cirrhosis were negative, IRM excluded primary sclerosing cholangitis and liver biopsy without cirrhosis or interface hepatitis). Initiated Anti-TNF alpha monotherapy (Adalimumab) in 2004 with complete remission. Suspended due to pregnancy in 2007 and stayed in remission without drugs until 2014. In 2012, she presented widespread painful mucocutaneous lesions involving the neck, trunk and upper limbs, with fever, arthralgia and deterioration of general condition, compatible with SS. Biopsy confi rmed diagnosis. Systematically excluded tuberculosis, lympho/myeloproliferative and other autoimmune diseases. Executed corticotherapy unsuccessfully, having developed iatrogenic diabetes. Improvement of lesions with dapsone, maintaining tolerable oral lesions. In 2014, worsening cutaneous lesions and initiates cyclosporine without any benefit. Under cyclosporine, progression to disabling oral lesions, and severe polyarthritis with DAS 28 5. 02 (high activity disease). The authors assumed SS secondary to RA and started anti-TNF alpha etanercept. Skin lesions improved within few days, with complete regression of all clinical and laboratory abnormalities. The authors argue the importance to consider SS in differential diagnosis of new mucocutaneus lesions in patients with known autoimmune diseases, including RA. The diagnosis should be based on clinical,laboratory and histological fi ndings of an acute febril neutrophilic dermatosis without vasculitis. In these cases, the treatment with anti-TNF alpha is an option.

Clinical and Echocardiographic Characterization of False-Positive Results from Stress Echocardiography

Rui Azevedo Guerreiro,Paula Fazendas,Ana Rita Pereira,Ana Marques,João Pais,Sofia Alegria,Kisa Hyde Congo,Ana Catarina Gomes,João Carvalho,Gonçalo Morgado,Inês Cruz,Ana Rita Almeida,Isabel João,Hélder 한국심초음파학회 2020 Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging (J Cardiovasc Im Vol.28 No.2

BACKGROUND: Stress echocardiography has a 72%–85% sensitivity and an 80%–95% specificity. In this study, we characterized patients who received a false-positive stress echocardiogram result. METHODS: A total of 5,256 patients underwent a stress echocardiogram (induced by exercise, dobutamine, or dipyridamole) between 2009 to 2018, and 405 patients (7.7%) received a positive result. Among the positive patients, 300 underwent coronary angiography within 12 months, and these patients were included in this study (mean age = 64.9 ± 9.4 years, 230 men [76.7%]). Coronary artery disease was diagnosed by stenosis ≥50% in any epicardial coronary artery. Clinical and echocardiographic variables were compared between patients with true- and false-positive stress echocardiogram results. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (24%) had a false-positive stress echocardiogram, with similar rates across stressor types (p = 0.574). Patients with false positives were less frequently men (63.9% vs. 80.7%, p = 0.003), had lower diabetes mellitus prevalence (15.3% vs. 45.6%, p = 0.001), were similar to true positive patients with regard to body-mass index, arterial hypertension prevalence, hyperlipidemia and smoking, and had lower pre-test probability of coronary artery disease (23% vs. 32%, p = 0.016). The wall motion score index (WMSI) was higher in the true-positive stress group, and wall motion abnormalities were more frequent in the apical segments (70.5% vs. 56.7%, p = 0.034). In a multivariable predictive model, men (odds ratio [OR] = 2.994), diabetes (OR = 5.440), and peak WMSI (OR = 10.690) were associated with a true-positive result. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty-four percent of our study population received a false-positive stress echocardiogram result, with similar rates across stressor types. Patients with true-positive stress echocardiogram results are more likely to be men, diabetic, and have a high peak WMSI.