Biofilm formation on medical and surgical devices is a major virulence determinant for Staphylococcus epidermidis. The bacterium S. epidermidis is able to produce biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces and is the cause of ocular infection (OI). Recent studies have shown that D-amino acids inhibit and disrupt biofilm formation in the prototype strains Bacillus subtilis NCBI3610 and Staphylococcus aureus SCO1. The effect of D-amino acids on S. epidermidis biofilm formation has yet to be tested for clinical or commensal isolates. S. epidermidis strains isolated from healthy skin (n53), conjunctiva (n59) and OI (n519) were treated with D-Leu, D-Tyr, D-Pro, D-Phe, D-Met or D-Ala and tested for biofilm formation. The presence of D-amino acids during biofilm formation resulted in a variety of patterns. Some strains were sensitive to all amino acids tested, while others were sensitive to one or more, and one strain was resistant to all of them when added individually; in this way D-Met inhibited most of the strains (26/31), followed by D-Phe (21/31). Additionally, the use of D-Met inhibited biofilm formation on a contact lens. The use of L-isomers caused no defect in biofilm formation in all strains tested. In contrast, when biofilms were already formed D-Met, D-Phe and D-Pro were able to disrupt it. In summary, here we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of D-amino acids on biofilm formation in S. epidermidis. Moreover, we showed, for the first time, that S. epidermidis clinical strains have a different sensitivity to these compounds during biofilm formation.

The TNFα-inhibitor isolates release LTA due to high expression of the LTA synthesis genes. By contrast, TNFα non-inhibitor isolates do not release LTA due to low expression level of the ltaS gene.

S i n c e s eve ra l ye a r s a g o, d i ve r s e corticosteroid derivatives have been development; for example, the synthesis 3α-acetoxy-16α

Aim. The present study was designed to investigate the activity of two glibenclamide derivatives on glucose concentration. An additional aim was to identify the biodistribution of glibenclamide derivatives in different organs in a diabetic animal model. Methods. The effects of two glibenclamide derivatives on glucose concentration were evaluated in a diabetic animal model. In addition, glibenclamide derivatives were bound to Tc-99m using radioimmunoassay methods. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of the glibenclamide derivatives over time (15, 30, 45 and 60 min) the Tc-99m-glibenclamide conjugates were used. Results. The results showed that glibenclamide-pregnenolone had greater hypoglycemic activity than glibenclamide or glibenclamide-OH. The data also showed that the biodistribution of Tc-99m-glibenclamide-OH in all organs was less than that of the Tc-99m-glibenclamide-pregnenolone derivative. Conclusions. The glibenclamide-pregnenolone derivative had greater hypoglycemic effects and its biodistribution was wider than glibenclamide-OH. The data suggest that the steroid nucleus may be important to the hypoglycemic activity of the glibenclamide-pregnenolone derivative and this could be related to the degree of lipophilicity induced by the steroid nucleus in the chemical structure of glibenclamide-pregnenolone.

No abstract

Two danazol derivatives were synthesized and characterized by spectral analyses. In order to characterize the structural and chemical requirements of danazol derivatives, several parameters such aslogP, π, Rmand Vmwere evaluated. The results showed an increase in the values oflogPfor the compound 6 in comparison with 3. The compound 3 showed an increase in the values of π, R Vmand V Vmwith respect to 6. These data indicate a high degree of lipophilicity and a low steric impediment for compound 6 in comparison with 3.

In this study two new indol-steroid derivatives were synthesized. The first stage involves the synthesis of 17-(2-amino-thiazol-5-yl)-

RESUMO: "Efeitos induzidos por Ruta graveolens L., Rutaceae, Cnidoscolus chayamansa McVaugh, Euphorbiaceae, e Citrus aurantium L., Rutaceae, nos níveis de glucose, colesterol e triacilglicerídeos num modelo do rato diabético". Diversas plantas com propriedades hipoglicêmicas foram usadas na medicina popular e em sistemas tradicionais de curas em torno do mundo. A finalidade deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos induzidos por Ruta graveolens L, Rutaceae, Cnidoscolus chayamansa McVaugh, Euphorbiaceae, e Citrus aurantium L., Rutaceae, em modelo do rato diabético onde níveis da glucose foram determinados a cada 24 h em um mês antes da administração gástrica do extrato das plantas. Colesterol e triacilglicerídeos foram avaliados usando técnicas enzimáticas. Os resultados mostraram que a administração de Cnidoscolus chayamansa a dose de 0,5 a 1,5 g/kg induz um aumento hipoglicêmico (< 200 mg/dL). Outros dados indicam que Cnidoscolus chayamansa exerce variações nos níveis de triacilglicerídeos (80-90 mg/dL) e colesterol (88-96 mg/dL). A administração de Citrus aurantium nas mesmas doses não foi suficiente para diminuir os níveis de glucose (> 200 mg/dL). Outros resultados, mostraram que Citrus aurantium exerce mudanças na concentração de triacilglicerídeos (158-172 mg/dL) e colesterol (120-128 mg/dL). Finalmente, a administração de Ruta graveolens na dose de 0.5 g/ kg induziu um efeito hipoglicêmico (< 200 mg/dL). Ruta graveolens, na dose de 0.5 a 1.5 g/kg, induziu variações nos níveis de triacilglicerídeos (110-120 mg/dL) e colesterol (116-124 mg/dL). Em conclusão, a administração de Cnidoscolus chayamansa exerce efeitos hipoglicêmicos numa maneira dose dependente em comparação com Ruta graveolens e Citrus aurantium. As plantas avaliadas induzem mudanças nos níveis de lipídeos dependente da dose.Unitermos: Diabetes, Cnidoscolus chayamansa, Ruta graveolens, Citrus aurantium, Wistar.ABSTRACT: "Induced effects by Ruta graveolens L., Rutaceae, Cnidoscolus chayamansa McVaugh, Euphorbiaceae, and Citrus aurantium L., Rutaceae, on glucose, cholesterol and triacylglycerides levels in a diabetic rat model". Several plants with hypoglycemic properties have been used in folk medicine and traditional healing systems around the world. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of Ruta graveolens L., Rutaceae, Cnidoscolus chayamansa McVaugh, Euphorbiaceae, and Citrus aurantium L., Rutaceae, in a diabetic rat model to which the glucose levels were quantified every 24 hours by one month before of gastric administration of plants extract. Additionally, the cholesterol and triacylglycerides were evaluated using standard enzymatic techniques. The results showed that increases in the dose (0.5 to 1.5 g/kg) of Cnidoscolus chayamansa induce a high hypoglycemic effect (< 200 mg/dL). Another data indicate that Cnidoscolus chayamansa exerts variations in triacylglycerides (80-90 mg/dL) and cholesterol (88-96 mg/dL). Nevertheless, the administration of Citrus aurantium in the same doses was not sufficient for diminish the glucose leve...