Currently, about 50 natural epoxy acetylenic fatty acids are known. This chapter describes biologically active epoxy acetylenic fatty acids and related compounds isolated from different sources. Intensive searches for new class of pharmacologically potent agents produced by living organisms have...

The potassium enolate of ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate 1 reacts with 3-bromo-1,1,1-trifluoroacetone 2 in DMSO solution to yield three products. Ethyl 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-hydroxydihydro-3-furoate 3 is generated via C-acylation. The hydrated trifluoromethyl ketone 4 is formed by O-alkyl...

The reaction of 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione with (R)-phenylglycinol was found to proceed via intermediate formation of (R, 4E, 6Z)-5,7-bis-(trifluoromethyl)-2,3-dihydro-3-phenyl-1,4-oxazepine which further underwent a base-catalyzed 1,3-proton shift reaction followed by [1,2] Wittig ...

In this study we investigated the effects of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis on human beta-defensin 2 (HBD-2) production in Caco-2 intestinal cell line, and the production of alpha-defensins (human neutrophil peptides, HNP 1–3) in peripheral blood. ...

Periodontitis is a multifactorial polymicrobial infection characterized by a destructive inflammatory process. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram-negative black-pigmented anaerobe, is a major pathogen in the initiation and progression of periodontitis; it produces several virulence factors that st...

AimsThe α-defensins or human neutrophil peptides (HNP 1–3) that exist in azurophilic granules are found to have anticancer activity. The pattern of disulfide bonds in α-defensins is crucial for the functional properties. Therefore, synthesis using the chemical and recombinant approaches is a ...

The α-defensins human neutrophil peptides (HNPs)-1, -2, and -3 have been described as cytotoxic peptides with restricted expression in neutrophils and in some lymphocytes. In this study we report that HNPs-1, -2, and -3 are also expressed in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). Several RCC lines were ...

The role of antimicrobial peptides is particularly important in the oral cavity where there is constant challenge by microorganisms. The α-defensins are a group of cationic peptides that comprise 30–50% of the total protein in azurophilic granules of human neutrophils. They include the human n...

To date, little attention has been paid to the possible role of α-defensins (human neutrophil peptides 1-3), HNP-1, HNP-2 and HNP-3 in innate host defence against tumour invasion. In the current study, using a single-dimensional high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for peptide sepa...

Defensins are a family of cationic antimicrobial peptides of innate immunity with immunomodulatory properties. The prototypic human α-defensins, also known as human neutrophil peptides 1-3 or HNP1-3, are extensively studied for their structure, function and mechanisms of action, yet little is k...

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), a Gs protein–coupled receptor, has an important role in human pigmentation. We investigated the regulation of expression and activity of the MC1R in primary human melanocyte cultures. Human β-defensin 3 (HBD3) acted as an antagonist for MC1R, inhibiting the ...

Human alpha-defensins are natural antimicrobial peptides of neutrophils evolved in host defense reactions and circulating nonstressed alpha-defensins may be associated with serum lipid levels. The aim of this work was to examine whether the expression of alpha-defensins 1, 2 and 3 genes are chan...

The DEFB4 gene copy numbers were investigated in 206 AD patients and in 250 controls. The levels of the human defensin β−2 (hBD2) and α-defensins (HNP 1-3) in the sera and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the patients and the controls were determined.Higher copy numbers of the DEFB4 gene wa...

Host rejection to biomaterials can induce uncontrolled foreign-body reactions (FBR), resulting in a dense fibrous encapsulation that blocks mass transport and/or communication between the host and the implant. Adequate angiogenesis between the body and the implant has been implicated as a key re...

BackgroundPreeclampsia complicates approximately 3–5% of pregnancies and remains a major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. It shares pathogenic similarities with adult cardiovascular disease as well as many risk factors. Pravastatin, a hydrophilic, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-gluta...

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to determine the bidirectional transfer of pravastatin across the dually perfused term human placental lobule and its distribution between the tissue and maternal and fetal circuits.

Wiechers’ programme “Formulating for Efficacy” initiated a new strategy to optimise the oil phase of topical formulations in order to achieve optimal transdermal drug delivery. This new approach uses the “Delivery Gap Theory” on any active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to test if it cou...

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage degradation driven by proinflammatory cytokines; meanwhile, statins display anti-inflammatory effects. Here we assessed the effects of pravastatin on inflammatory rat chondrocytes and explored the un...

AimsThe purpose of this study was to compare the effect of naringin 100 mg/kg in combination with pravastatin 10 mg/kg by gavage for 6 weeks compared with monotherapy over lipid profiles, glucose levels and weight in murine model of obesity.

The expression and activity of human placental transporters during pregnancy could be altered by several factors including pathological changes associated with preeclampsia. The aims of this study were to identify the placental efflux transporters involved in the bio-disposition of pravastatin, ...