ChOx are suitable biomarkers of oxidative stress and may be useful in clinical studies to follow drug effects on lipid oxidative modifications in diabetic patients.

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BackgroundAlopecia areata is the hair loss usually reversible, in sharply defined areas. The treatment of alopecia using growth factors shows interesting activity in promoting hair growth. In this concept, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is a marker of angiogenesis, stimulating hair growth by facilitating the supply of nutrients to the hair follicle, increasing follicular diameter. The aim of this study was the evaluation of a topical gel enriched with VEGF liposomes on the hair growth stimulation and its toxicological aspects.MethodsMesocricetus auratus were randomly divided into three groups. Control group was treated with Aristoflex® gel, 1% group with the same gel but added 1% VEGF and 3% group with 3% VEGF. Biochemical, hematological and histological analyses were done.ResultsAt the end of the experiment (15th day of VEGF treatment) efficacy was determined macroscopically by hair density dermatoscopy analysis, and microscopically by hair diameter analysis. They both demonstrated that hair of the VEGF group increased faster and thicker than control. On the other hand, biochemical and hematological results had shown that VEGF was not 100% inert.ConclusionsVEGF increased hair follicle area, but more studies are necessary to confirm its toxicity.

Hypercholesterolemia is linked to endothelial dysfunction and enhancement of the endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase. The statins have lipid-lowering and pleiotropic properties, which could exert protective effects on the endothelium in hypercholesterolemia. The association of L-arginine with simvastatin could promote a further improvement on endothelial function in this condition. Thus, we investigated whether simvastatin, with or without supplementation with L-arginine, could improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In this study, 25 hypercholesterolemic subjects were treated according to the following protocol: washout period of 1 month; simvastatin (20 mg/day) for 2 months; simvastatin (20 mg/day) + L-arginine (7 g/day) for 2 months. From these patients, 10 were chosen at random for evaluation of vascular function by high resolution ultrasonography of the brachial artery. In subjects treated with simvastatin plus L-arginine, an increase of L-arginine levels (68%) and L-arginine/asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) ratio (67%) were observed. Simvastatin reduced the plasma concentrations of NO metabolites nitrite + nitrate (NOx: 34%), S-nitrosothiols (RSNO: 42%), total cholesterol (25%), low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (36%) and the LDL-cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol ratio (34%). Simvastatin, associated or not to L-arginine, did not affect ADMA levels and endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Our data showed that simvastatin reduced the plasma concentrations of NOx and RSNO without affecting either the levels of ADMA or endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemia.

Essential to human health, selenium (Se) has enzymatic functions of fundamental importance to human biology due to its effects on DNA damage repair, its antioxidant properties, and cancer prevention. The best studied relationships between Se and the immune system is its role in the functions of neutrophils and of lymphocytes. Despite these observations, it is not yet clear by which mechanism Se is able to modify the immune status. This was a double-blind, crossover study: Group 1 received Se and Group 2 received placebo (30 days). After this, Group 1 received placebo and Group 2 received Se (30 days). Every 30 days, blood samples were collected for white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and Ig level measurement (IgA, IgG, IgE, IgM). Of the 36 patients, 17 were suffering from leukemia/lymphomas (LL) and 19 from solid tumors (ST). In the ST group's leukogram, a significant increase in neutrophils was observed after Se usage (P = .0192). During the analyzed period, Se minimized the triggering of neutropenia cases in both groups. IgA and IgG levels in ST patients were significantly higher than those identified in LL patients after Se usage (P = .0051 and P = .0055). For IgA, a significant increase in its production, after Se usage, was observed in the ST group when compared to the LL (P = .0011). The same did not occur to the IgM and IgE immunoglobulins. In our study, the supplementation with Se reduced the neutropenic cases (LL and ST patients) and reduced IgG and IgA levels in LL and increased in ST group.

Vancomycin (VCM) is indicated in combat against Gram-positive infections, but it is not considered a first-choice drug because of its adverse effects. It is believed that oxidative stress is the primary mechanism of endothelial injury and the consequent VCM toxicity, which varies from phlebitis to nephrotoxicity. Moreover, dose recommendations, dilution, rates and types of infusion are still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different VCM dilutions in endothelial, liver and kidney injuries by biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis. Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups and subjected to femoral vein cannulation for drug administration. Control groups received 0.9 ml of saline and the others received VCM (10mg/Kg/day) at dilutions of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/mL for 3 and 7 days. Homocysteine, hs-CRP, AST, ALT, GGT, urea, creatinine, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and retinol were analyzed. Kidney, liver and cannulated femoral vein fragments were collected.This study showed alterations in ALT which featured hepatotoxicity. However, drug dilutions were not able to show changes in other biochemical parameters. In contrast, kidney and endothelium pathological changes were observed. More studies are needed to characterize VCM induced kidney and endothelium toxicity and biochemical markers able to show such morphological modifications.

Evaluation of homocysteine concentrations during chemotherapy is extremely important because their levels increase during chemotherapy treatment, thus increasing the risk of thromboembolism development.

BackgroundLeptospirosis is a zoonosis which is spread through contamined running water. This contaminations is seriously affected by the flooding which occurs in the area surrounding the Aricanduva river. The transmission of the disease results mainly from the contact of water with soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals. We aimed to conduct an epidemiological survey on Leptospirosis cases in Sao Paulo East Zone area.MethodThe analysis conducted in this study was based on data collected from the health authorities of that region close the Aricanduva river between 2007 and 2008 years, which give the rates of confirmed cases, mortality and death from human Leptospirosis. Other information concerned with the relationships among rainfall index, points of flooding and incidence of Leptospirosis.ResultsWe observed a direct and important water contamination. Records of flooding points and dates of the reported cases in the region showed a direct relationship from which the period of higher rainfall also recorded an increase in cases. The annual record of the city and the region and rainfall regions also presented correlation.ConclusionThe association between the indices of flooding and Leptospirosis cases indicates that preventive measures are necessary to avoid exposing the community.