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Mentha aquatica L., or water mint, is an important member of the Mentha genus, and has long been used in traditional medicine, mainly to treat respiratory diseases such as the common cold. Nevertheless, although over the years many studies have shown that it's potential grows beyond this use, a review that highlights M. aquatica L.'s true potential is still lacking. Thus, the main purpose of the present article is to provide a thorough and multidisciplinary critical review of M. aquatica L., including its phytochemical characterization, main bioactivities, and current marketed cosmetic products. Many compounds have been identified as part of M. aquatica L. composition, such as terpenes, phenolic acids, phenols, and terpenoids, which have been linked to a vast therapeutic potential, namely anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiobesity, and hepatoprotection bioactivities, with additional anticancer potential for several types of tumors (breast, lung, and skin), and psycho and neuroactive potential in depression, or Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Additionally, it has been proven to be suitable for cosmetic application since several cleansing, hydrating, protecting, and/or odor masking products containing it are already available, with the main functions attributed to M. aquatica including refreshing/cooling effects, calming/soothing/relaxing effects, and purifying effects, properties closely related to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant bioactivities. Hence, M. aquatica is an extremely versatile plant, with its extracts and essential oils having great therapeutic and cosmetic potential. With many marketed cosmetic products, future studies should focus on this plant's medicinal aspects, so that 1 day it can be part of therapeutic regimens., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This study investigates the influence of pregnancy on the in vivo activity of the intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and hepatic organic anion transporters polypeptide (OATP/BCRP) using, respectively, fexofenadine and rosuvastatin as probe drugs. Eleven healthy participants were investigated during the third trimester of pregnancy (Phase 1, 28 to 38 weeks of gestation) and in the postpartum period (Phase 2, 8 to 12 weeks postpartum). In both phases, after administration of a single oral dose of fexofenadine (60 mg) and rosuvastatin (5 mg), serial blood samples were collected for up to 24 h. Rosuvastatin and fexofenadine in plasma were analyzed by LC-MS/MS using previously validated methods. The pharmacokinetic parameters of fexofenadine and rosuvastatin (Phoenix WinNonLin software) with normal distribution (Shapiro-Wilk test) are presented as geometric mean and 90% confidence interval. Phases 1 and 2 were compared using the t test (P < .05). Fexofexadine AUC 0-24 values do not differ (P-value: .0715) between Phase 1 (641.9 ng h/mL [500.6-823.1]) and Phase 2 (823.8 ng h/mL [641.5-1057.6]) showing that pregnancy (third trimester) does not alter intestinal P-gp activity. However, rosuvastatin AUC 0-24 values are higher (P-value: .00005) in Phase 1 (18.7 ng h/mL [13.3-26.4]) when compared to Phase 2 (9.5 ng h/mL [6.7-13.4]), suggesting inhibition of OATP1B1/OATP1B3 transporters. In conclusion, pregnancy assessed during the third trimester does not alter the intestinal P-gp activity but reduces the activity of hepatic OATP1B1/OATP1B3 transporters. Therefore, adjustments in dosage regimens may be necessary for drugs with low therapeutic index, substrates of the OATP1B1/OATP1B3 transporters, administered during the third trimester of pregnancy., (© 2024, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

This study aims to evaluate the impact of liver fibrosis stages of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the in vivo activity of organic cation transporters (hepatic OCT1 and renal OCT2) using metformin (MET) as a probe drug. Participants allocated in Group 1 ( n = 15, mild to moderate liver fibrosis) or 2 ( n = 13, advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis) received a single MET 50 mg oral dose before direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drug treatment (Phase 1) and 30 days after achieving sustained virologic response (Phase 2). OCT1/2 activity (MET AUC 0-24 ) was found to be reduced by 25% when comparing the two groups in Phase 2 (ratio 0.75 (0.61-0.93), p < 0.05) but not in Phase 1 (ratio 0.81 (0.66-0.98), p > 0.05). When Phases 1 and 2 were compared, no changes were detected in both Groups 1 (ratio 1.10 (0.97-1.24), p > 0.05) and 2 (ratio 1.03 (0.94-1.12), p > 0.05). So, this study shows a reduction of approximately 25% in the in vivo activity of OCT1/2 in participants with advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis after achieving sustained virologic response and highlights that OCT1/2 in vivo activity depends on the liver fibrosis stage of chronic HCV infection.

The Serra da Neve inselberg in Namibe Province, southwestern Angola is the second highest peak of Angola with an elevation of 2489 m. It remains one of the least explored regions in the country, despite several endemic species having been recently described from this inselberg. Here we provide an inventory of the amphibian and reptile species ocurring in Serra da Neve and compare its fauna with that of the surrounding habitats at lower elevations. We also examine the phylogenetic affinities of the inselberg taxa. A total of 59 herpetological taxa were recorded for the Serra da Neve inselberg and its immediate surroundings. These include 11 species of amphibians, belonging to nine genera and seven different families, and 48 species of reptiles, belonging to 32 genera and 12 families. Of these, one amphibian and seven reptiles from seven different genera are strictly endemic, making the inselberg the richest region in southwestern Africa with respect to strict endemics, with one endemic reptile taxa per 127 km 2 . Not surprisingly, most of the recorded taxa belong to clades that are endemic, or at least strongly associated, with southern Africa, but two are representatives of central African clades, and another two are more closely related to eastern African highland taxa. We also provide comments on the threats to the conservation of this endemic-rich inselberg., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Mariana P. Marques, Diogo Parrinha, Manuel Lopes-Lima, Arthur Tiutenko, Aaron M. Bauer, Luis M. P. Ceríaco.)

Natural History Collections (NHCs) represent the world's largest repositories of long-term biodiversity datasets. Specimen collection and voucher deposition has been the backbone of NHCs since their inception, but recent decades have seen a drastic decline in rates of growth via active collecting. Amphibians and reptiles are amongst the most threatened zoological groups on the planet and are historically underrepresented in most worldwide NHCs. As part of an ongoing project to review the Portuguese zoological collections in the country's NHCs, herpetological data from its three major museums and smaller collections was gathered and used to examine the coverage and representation of the different taxa extant in Portugal. These collections are not taxonomically, geographically, or temporally complete. Approximately 90% of the Portuguese herpetological taxa are represented in the country's NHCs, and around half of the taxa are represented by less than 50 specimens. Geographically, the collections cover less than 30% of the country's territory and almost all of the occurring taxa have less than 10% of their known distribution represented in the collections. A discussion on the implications for science of such incomplete collections and a review of the current status of Portuguese NHCs is presented.

Flavoring olive oils is a new trend in consumer preferences, and different enrichment techniques can be used. Coextraction of olives with a flavoring agent is an option for obtaining a flavored product without the need for further operations. Moreover, ultrasound (US) assisted extraction is an emergent technology able to increase extractability. Combining US and coextraction, it is possible to obtain new products using different types of olives (e.g., cultivar and ripening stage), ingredient(s) with the greatest flavoring and/or bioactive potential, as well as extraction conditions. In the present study, mastic thyme ( Thymus mastichina L.) (TM) and lemon thyme ( Thymus x citriodorus ) (TC) were used for flavoring Cornicabra oils by coextraction. The coextraction trials were performed by (i) thyme addition to the olives during crushing or malaxation and (ii) US application before malaxation. Several parameters were evaluated in the oil: quality criteria parameters, total phenols, fatty acid composition, chlorophyll pigments, phenolic profile and oxidative stability. US application did not change the phenolic profile of Cornicabra olive oils, while the enrichment of olive oils with phenolic compounds or pigments by coextraction was very dependent on the thyme used. TM enrichment showed an improvement of several new phenolic compounds in the oils, while with TC, fewer new phenols were observed. In turn, in the trials with TC, the extraction of chlorophyll pigments was higher, particularly in crushing coprocessing. Moreover, the oils obtained with US and TM added in the mill or in the malaxator showed lower phenol decrease (59%) than oils flavored with TC (76% decrease) or Cornicabra virgin olive oil (80% decrease) over an 8-month storage period. Multivariate data analysis, considering quality parameters, pigments and phenolic contents, showed that flavored oils were mainly grouped by age.

This work aimed to evaluate the total, unbound, renal, and hepatic clearances of raltegravir (RAL) and the formation and elimination clearances of raltegravir glucuronide (RAL GLU) in pregnant women living with HIV. The participants received RAL 400 mg twice daily during the third trimester (n = 15) of gestation, delivery (n = 15), and the postpartum period (n = 8). Pharmacokinetic parameter values were calculated on the basis of plasma and urine data using noncompartmental methods. RAL clearances for the third trimester of gestation were as follows: total clearance: geometric mean, 63.63 L/h (95% CI, 47.5-85.25); renal clearance: geometric mean, 2.56 L/h (95% CI, 1.96-3.34); hepatic clearance: geometric mean, 60.52 L/h (95% CI, 44.65-82.04); and unbound clearance: geometric mean, 281.14 L/h (95% CI, 203.68-388.05). RAL GLU formation and elimination clearances for the third trimester of gestation were 7.57 L/h (95% CI, 4.94-11.6) and 8.71 L/h (95% CI, 6.71-11.32), respectively. No differences were observed in RAL GLU pharmacokinetic parameters between the third trimester of gestation and the postpartum period, except for higher formation (7.57 vs 4.03 L/h) and elimination (8.71 vs 4.92 L/h) clearances during the third trimester. The findings based on plasma and urine data are consistent with an increase in the hepatic uridine 5' diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase isoenzymes activities involved in RAL metabolism during pregnancy, and the formation of RAL GLU is a minor route of RAL elimination. Compared to the postpartum period, in the third trimester of gestation, the similar RAL plasma exposure in pregnant women reinforces the maintenance of an RAL regimen including a 400-mg oral dose twice daily during pregnancy., (© 2023, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

The activity of the membrane transporters organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (OATP1B1) & breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) (rosuvastatin) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) (fexofenadine) was evaluated in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (n = 28), genotypes 1 and 3, investigated before the treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (Phase 1) and up to 30 days after the assessment of the virologic response (Phase 2). Participants allocated in Groups 1 (n = 15; F0/F1 and F2, mild to moderate liver fibrosis) and 2 (n = 13; F3 and F4, advanced course of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis) received in both phases fexofenadine (10 mg) and rosuvastatin (2 mg). OATP1B1 & BCRP activity (rosuvastatin area under the plasma concentration-time curve of rosuvastatin from time zero to infinity (AUC 0-∞ )) was reduced in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, by 25% (ratio 0.75 (0.53-0.82), P < 0.01) and 31% (ratio 0.69 (0.46-0.85), P < 0.05) in Phase 1 compared with Phase 2. OATP1B1 & BCRP activity was reduced in Phases 1 and 2, respectively, by 49% (median ratio 1.51 (1.17-2.20), P < 0.05) and 61% (ratio 1.39 (1.16-2.02), P < 0.01) in Group 2 compared with Group 1. P-gp activity (fexofenadine AUC 0-∞ ) was also reduced in Phase 1 compared with Phase 2 (ratio Phase2/Phase1 0.79 (0.66-0.96) in Group 1 and 0.81 (0.69-0.96) in Group 2) as well as in Group 2 compared with Group 1 in both Phases (ratio Group2/Group1 1.47 (1.08-2.01) in Phase 1 and 1.51 (1.10-2.07) in Phase 2). Thus, clinicians administering OATP1B1 & BCRP and P-gp substrates with low therapeutic indexes should consider the evolution of the treatment and the stage of HCV infection., (© 2023 The Authors. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics © 2023 American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.)

The herpetofauna of São Tomé and Príncipe consists of nine species of amphibians, all endemic, and 21 species of terrestrial reptiles, of which 17 are endemic. Our current knowledge regarding its natural history, ecology, and distribution is limited. Here two important tools are provided to support researchers, conservationists, and local authorities in the identification of the country's herpetofauna: an illustrated key to the herpetofauna of the two islands and surroundings islets and a DNA barcode reference library. The keys allow a rapid and unambiguous morphological identification of all occurring species. The DNA barcodes for the entire herpetofauna of the country were produced from 79 specimens, all of which are deposited in museum collections. The barcodes generated are available in online repositories and can be used to provide unambiguous molecular identification of most of the species. Future applications and use of these tools are briefly discussed., Competing Interests: No conflict of interest was declared., (Luis Miguel Pires Ceríaco, Mariana Pimentel Marques, Ana Carolina Andrade de Sousa, Joana Veríssimo, Pedro Beja, Sónia Ferreira.)

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic eczematous inflammatory disease that may arise from environmental, genetic, and immunological factors. Despite the efficacy of current treatment options such as corticosteroids, such approaches are mainly focused on symptom relief and may present certain undesirable side effects. In recent years, isolated natural compounds, oils, mixtures, and/or extracts have gained scientific attention because of their high efficiency and moderate to low toxicity. Despite their promising therapeutic effects, the applicability of such natural healthcare solutions is somewhat limited by their instability, poor solubility, and low bioavailability. Therefore, novel nanoformulation-based systems have been designed to overcome these limitations, thus enhancing the therapeutic potential, by promoting the capacity of these natural drugs to properly exert their action in AD-like skin lesions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first literature review that has focused on summarizing recent nanoformulation-based solutions loaded with natural ingredients, specifically for the management of AD. We suggest that future studies should focus on robust clinical trials that may confirm the safety and effectiveness of such natural-based nanosystems, thus paving the way for more reliable AD treatments.

Skin tissue has a crucial role in protecting the human body from external harmful agents, preventing wounds that frequently demand proper healing approaches. The ethnobotanical knowledge of specific regions with further investigation on their medicinal plants has been paramount to create new and effective therapeutical agents, including for dermatological purposes. This review attempts, for the first time, to investigate the traditional applications of Lamiaceae medicinal plants that are already used by local communities in the Iberian Peninsula in wound healing. Henceforward, Iberian ethnobotanical surveys were reviewed, and the information about the traditional wound healing practices of Lamiaceae was comprehensively summarized. Afterwards, the scientific validation of each Lamiaceae species was exhaustively checked. From this, eight out of twenty-nine Lamiaceae medicinal plants were highlighted by their wound-related pharmacological evidence and are in-depth presented in this review. We suggest that future studies should focus on the isolation and identification of the active molecules of these Lamiaceae, followed by robust clinical trials that may confirm the security and effectiveness of such natural-based approaches. This will in turn pave the way for more reliable wound healing treatments.

This study evaluates the influence of pregnancy and HIV infection in conjunction with the use of raltegravir, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (combined antiretroviral therapy [cART]) on intestinal P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and hepatic organic anion transporter polypeptide (OATP) 1B1/1B3 and/or breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) drug transporter activity using rosuvastatin (OATP1B/BCRP) and fexofenadine (P-gp) probes. Single oral doses of 5-mg rosuvastatin and 60-mg fexofenadine were administered to women living with HIV under cART in the third trimester of gestation (n = 15) and postpartum period (n = 10). A control group of 12 healthy nonpregnant women also was investigated. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by using a noncompartmental method and evaluated by t test (P < .05). The rosuvastatin area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration (AUC 0-last ) value was higher in the third trimester of pregnancy (19.5 [95%CI, 16.8-22.3] ng • h/mL] when compared to postpartum (13.3 [95%CI, 9.3-17.5] ng • h/mL), while the fexofenadine AUC 0-last values did not differ between the third trimester of pregnancy (738.0 [95%CI, 611.4-864.6] ng • h/mL) and postpartum period (874.9 [95%CI, 408.2-1342.0] ng• h/mL). The rosuvastatin AUC 0-last values did not differ between healthy nonpregnant women (13.8 [95%CI, 10.0-17.6] ng • h/mL) and women living with HIV in the postpartum period (13.3 [95%CI, 9.3-17.5] ng • h/mL), and the fexofenadine AUC 0-last values did not differ between the 2 investigated groups (603.6 [95%CI, 467.5-739.7] ng • h/mL vs 874.9 [95%CI, 408.2-1342.0] ng • h/mL). It is suggested that gestation inhibits the hepatic OATP1B1/1B3 and/or BCRP activity but does not alter intestinal P-gp activity. The influence of HIV infection in conjunction with use of cART on OATP1B/BCRP and intestinal P-gp activity was not observed., (© 2022, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav., Mentha cervina L. and Thymus mastichina (L.) L. subsp. mastichina are representative species of the Côa Valley's flora, a Portuguese UNESCO World Heritage Site. L. pedunculata and T. mastichina are traditionally used to preserve olives and to aromatize bonfires on Saint John's Eve, while M. cervina is mainly used as a spice for river fish dishes. Despite their traditional uses, these aromatic plants are still undervalued, and literature regarding their bioactivity, especially anticancer, is scarce. In this work, the morphology of secretory structures was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the composition of essential oils (EOs) was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The study proceeded with cytotoxic evaluation of EOs in tumor and non-tumor cells with the cell death mechanism explored in glioblastoma (GB) cells. L. pedunculata EO presented the most pronounced cytotoxic/antiproliferative activity against tumor cells, with moderate cytotoxicity against non-tumor cells. Whereas, M. cervina EO exhibited a slightly lower cytotoxic effect against tumor cells and did not affect the viability of non-tumor cells. Meanwhile, T. mastichina EO did not induce a strong cytotoxic effect against GB cells. L. pedunculata and M. cervina EOs lead to cell death by inducing apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The present study suggests that L. pedunculata and M. cervina EOs have a strong cytotoxic and antiproliferative potential to be further studied as efficient antitumor agents.

Vegetable supply in the world is more than double than vegetable intake, which supposes a significant waste of vegetables, in addition to the agricultural residues produced. As sensitive food products, the reasons for this waste vary from the use of only a part of the vegetable due to its different properties to the product appearance and market image. An alternative high-added-value application for these wastes rich in cellulose could be the reduction in size to produce lignocellulose micro- and nanofibrils (LCMNF). In this sense, a direct treatment of greengrocery waste (leek, lettuce, and artichoke) to produce LCMNFs without the extraction of cellulose has been studied, obtaining highly concentrated suspensions, without using chemicals. After drying the wastes, these suspensions were produced by milling and blending at high shear followed by several passes in the high-pressure homogenizer (up to six passes). The presence of more extractives and shorter fiber lengths allowed the obtention of 5-5.5% leek LCMNF suspensions and 3.5-4% lettuce LCMNF suspensions, whereas for artichoke, only suspensions of under 1% were obtained. The main novelty of the work was the obtention of a high concentration of micro- and nanofiber suspension from the total waste without any pretreatment. These high concentrations are not obtained from other raw materials (wood or annual plants) due to the clogging of the homogenizer, requiring the dilution of the sample up to 1% or the use of chemical pretreatments.

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most malignant form of primary astrocytoma, accounting for more than 60% of all brain tumors in adults. Nowadays, due to the development of multidrug resistance causing relapses to the current treatments and the development of severe side effects resulting in reduced survival rates, new therapeutic approaches are needed. The genus Plectranthus belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is known to be rich in abietane-type diterpenes, which possess antitumor activity. Specifically, P. hadiensis (Forssk.) Schweinf. ex Sprenger has been documented for the use against brain tumors. Therefore, the aim of this work was to perform the bioguided isolation of compounds from the acetonic extract of P. hadiensis stems and to investigate the in vitro antiglioblastoma activity of the extract and its isolated constituents. After extraction, six fractions were obtained from the acetonic extract of P. hadiensis stems. In a preliminary biological screening, the fractions V and III showed the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. None of the fractions were toxic in the Artemia salina assay. We obtained different abietane-type diterpenes such as 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (Roy) and 6β,7β-dihydroxyroyleanone (DiRoy), which was also in agreement with the HPLC-DAD profile of the extract. Furthermore, the antiproliferative activity was assessed in a glioma tumor cell line panel by the Alamar blue assay. After 48 h treatment, Roy exerted strong antiproliferative/cytotoxic effects against tumor cells with low IC 50 values among the different cell lines. Finally, we synthesized a new fluorescence derivative in this study to evaluate the biodistribution of Roy. The uptake of BODIPY-7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone by GB cells was associated with increased intracellular fluorescence, supporting the antiproliferative effects of Roy. In conclusion, Roy is a promising natural compound that may serve as a lead compound for further derivatization to develop future therapeutic strategies against GB.

Recent integrative taxonomic studies of the agamid genus Acanthocercus Fitzinger, 1843 have shown that Angola harbors three different taxa, all within the Acanthocercus atricollis (Smith, 1849) species complexA. cyanocephalus (Falk, 1925) in the northeastern parts of the country, A. margaritae Wagner et al. 2021 in the southern regions, and an unnamed species in the central and northwestern parts of Angola. Using the previously published molecular data as evidence of phylogenetic support and newly collected morphological, meristic and coloration data, we here describe this unnamed lineage as a new species. The new species is morphologically very similar to A. cyanocephalus, but it can easily be differentiated from the latter by the coloration pattern of displaying males, with a blue coloration restricted to the head region, and by its inferior scale counts compared to other species of the A. atricollis complex group. As reported in other studies in this group, male breeding coloration is an effective trait for diagnosing these morphologically conserved species. This description raises the number of Acanthocercus species recognized to 15 and is another contribution revealing the rich but still incompletely described herpetological diversity of Angola.

Aim: No study has evaluated the betamethasone pharmacokinetics in twin pregnancies according to chorionicity. This study aimed to describe and compare the betamethasone pharmacokinetic parameters in singleton and dichorionic (DC) and monochorionic twin pregnancies in the third trimester of pregnancy., Methods: Twenty-six pregnant women received 2 intramuscular doses of 6 mg of betamethasone sodium phosphate plus 6 mg betamethasone acetate due to preterm labour. Serial blood samples were collected for 24 hours after the first intramuscular dose of betamethasone esters. Betamethasone plasma concentrations were quantified using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analytical method, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained employing a noncompartmental model. Preliminary data on the betamethasone placental transfer are also presented., Results: The geometric mean (95% confidence interval) of AUC 0-∞ 645.1 (504.3-825.2) vs. 409.8 (311.2-539.6) ng.h/mL and CL/F 17.70 (13.84-22.65) vs. 27.87 (21.17-36.69) were significantly different, respectively, in singleton pregnancies when compared to DC twins., Conclusion: Data from this study suggest that the presence of 2 foetoplacental units may increase the betamethasone metabolism by hepatic CYP3A4 and/or placental 11β-HSD2 enzymes. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic clinical studies are needed to investigate whether these betamethasone pharmacokinetic changes have clinical repercussions for the newborns and require dose adjustment in DC twin pregnancies., (© 2021 British Pharmacological Society.)

The implementation of continuous-flow transformations in biocatalysis has received remarkable attention in the last few years. Flow microfluidic reactors represent a crucial technological tool that has catalyzed this trend by promising tremendous improvement in biocatalytic processes across a host of different levels, including bioprocess development, intensification of reactions, implementation of new methods of reaction screening, and enhanced reaction scale-up. However, the full realization of this promise requires a synergy between these biocatalytic reaction features and the design and operation of microfluidic reactors. Here an overview on the different applications of flow biocatalysis is provided according to the format of the enzyme used: free vs immobilized form. Until now, flow biocatalysis has been implemented on a case-by-case approach but challenges and limitations are discussed in order to be overcome, and making continuous-flow microfluidic reactors as universal tool a reality., (© 2021. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Neurocryptococcosis, a meningoencephalitis caused by Cryptococcus spp, is treated with amphotericin B (AmB) combined with fluconazole. The integrity of the brain-blood barrier and the composition of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may change due to infectious and/or inflammatory diseases such as neurocryptococcosis allowing for the penetration of AmB into the central nervous system. The present study aimed to develop LC-MS/MS methods capable of quantifying AmB in CSF at any given time of the treatment in addition to plasma, plasma ultrafiltrate, with sensitivity compatible with the low concentrations of AmB reported in the CSF. The methods were successfully validated in the four matrices (25 μl, 5-1,000 ng ml -1 for plasma or urine; 100 μl, 0.625-250 ng ml -1 for plasma ultrafiltrate; 100 μl, 0.1-250 ng ml -1 for CSF) using protein precipitation. The methods were applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics of AmB following infusions of 100 mg every 24 h for 16 days administered as a lipid complex throughout the treatment of a neurocryptococcosis male patient. The methods allowed for a detailed description of the pharmacokinetic parameters in the assessed patient in the beginning (4th day) and end of the treatment with AmB (16th day), with total clearances of 7.21 and 4.25 L h -1 , hepatic clearances of 7.15 and 4.22 L h -1 , volumes of distribution of 302.94 and 206.89 L, and unbound fractions in plasma ranging from 2.26 to 3.25%. AmB was quantified in two CSF samples collected throughout the treatment with concentrations of 12.26 and 18.45 ng ml -1 on the 8th and 15th days of the treatment, respectively. The total concentration of AmB in plasma was 31 and 20 times higher than in CSF. The unbound concentration in plasma accounted for 77 and 44% of the respective concentrations in CSF. In conclusion, the present study described the most complete and sensitive method for AmB analysis in plasma, plasma ultrafiltrate, urine, and CSF applied to a clinical pharmacokinetic study following the administration of the drug as a lipid complex in one patient with neurocryptococcosis. The method can be applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics of AmB in CSF at any given time of the treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Pippa, Marques, Silva, Vilar, de Haes, Fonseca, Martinez, Coelho, Wichert-Ana and Lanchote.)

Objectives: Even though much is known about bone mineral and matrix composition, studies about their relationship with several bone properties and its alterations related to bone diseases such as osteoporosis are practically non-existent in humans. Thus, the development of methods to understand the effects of bone properties at a microscopic level is paramount. This research aimed to evaluate whether Fourier transform infrared-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) band intensity ratios correlate with femoral bone mass, bone mineral content (BMC) (total and femoral neck), bone mineral per unit area (BMD) (total, femoral neck, greater trochanter, intertrochanteric region, and Ward's area) and the area (total and femoral neck). A sample of femora from the 21st Century Identified Skeleton Collection (N = 78, 42 females and 36 males) was employed and BMC, BMD, and the femoral areas were acquired by DXA., Results: It was found that only females' BMD had a significant association with the femoral FTIR-ATR indices under study, whereas bone collagen (Am/P) and the content of carbonate Type A (API) in males correlated with the total proximal femur area of the regions of interest and the femoral neck area., Discussion: Men and women showed different changes related to their chemical composition in BMD, BMC, and probed area, most likely due to differences in structure and physiology, as well as mechanical strength in the proximal femoral sites where BMD was analyzed., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The genus Pedioplanis reaches its northernmost limit in western Angola, where it is represented by three species, Pedioplanis benguelensis, P. haackei and P. huntleyi. The taxonomic status of P. benguelensis remains problematic, mainly due to the vague original description and the loss of the original type material. Here we provide a revision of the Angolan representatives of the genus, with the description of a new species, Pedioplanis serodioi sp. nov., from the lowlands of southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analyses using a combination of mitochondrial (16S and ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1) markers, as well as morphological data, support the recognition of the new species. For purposes of nomenclatural stability, we designate a neotype for P. benguelensis and provide motivation to correct the spelling of the specific epithet to benguelensis. The clarification of the status of P. benguelensis and the description of a new species contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Pedioplanis, as well as the general biogeographic context of southwestern Angola, adding to the growing evidence in favor of the recognition of this region as a hotspot of lizard diversity and endemism. An updated key to the genus is also provided.

Francisco Newtons zoological expedition to Angola undertaken between 1903 and 1906 is one of the least studied of the naturalists life. Only three major papers regarding the herpetofauna collected in this expedition have been published, and a significant part of the specimens remains unstudied since the 1900s. Here we review the extant herpetological specimens of this expedition, present an updated taxonomic revision, and provide new insights on their taxonomic status. The extant collection is constituted by 329 specimens (155 amphibians and 174 reptiles), corresponding to 73 species, 39 genera and 22 families, and it is presently housed in the Museu de Histria Natural e da Cincia da Universidade do Porto (MHNC-UP).

Misoprostol is a prostaglandin E1 synthetic analogous used for elective interruptions of early pregnancy, treatment of incomplete abortion, postpartum hemorrhage and induction of full-term labor. Its a lipophilic drug, passing by extensive and rapid pre-systemic metabolism into the active metabolite, misoprostol acid (MA). The objective of this study was to develop and validate a highly sensitive method for MA determination in plasma using UPLC-MSMS, with application in a study of maternal-fetal pharmacokinetics in healthy parturients women (n = 10) after administration of 25 μg misoprostol vaginally. The method presented linearity of 2-10 pg/mL and acceptable precision, accuracy, plasma and solution stability. The parturients women presented median (interquartile range) values of AUC 0-6 of 68.0 (40.8-84.7) pg.h/mL, C max of 21.9 (11.9-30.1) pg/mL and T max of 2.25 (0.69-5.00) h. The placental transfer of MA was assessed from the umbilical vein/maternal blood ratios of 1.40 (0.91-2.13) and intervillous space/maternal blood ratios of 0.49 (0.15-3.41). In conclusion, this method presented high sensitivity, being able to quantify MA in plasma samples following a low 25 μg misoprostol administered vaginally aimed to induce labor in parturients women. Additionally, this is the first description of the placental transfer of MA after a vaginal administration of misoprostol., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The herpetological collections of the Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Lisbon, are amongst the most important collections from the former Portuguese territories in Africa and Asia. The collection comprises more than 5000 preserved specimens, including type specimens of nine taxa, Trachylepis adamastor , Trachypelis thomensis , Panaspis thomensis , Naja peroescobari , Dalophia angolensis , Hemidactylus nzingae , Boaedon fradei , Platysaurus maculatus maculatus , and Platysaurus maculatus lineicauda . The collection was abandoned in the early years of 2000s and was at risk of being lost. In this paper the entire collection is reviewed, a catalogue provided of the extant specimens, and a brief account of the history of herpetological research at IICT given. Details are also provided on the recovery of the collection and a protocol to rescue abandoned collections., (Luis M. P. Ceríaco, Diogo Parrinha, Mariana P. Marques.)

Purpose: Few studies have reported the influence of environmental factors that may act as barriers or facilitators to participation in parasports. The aim of this study was to describe and analyse the relationship between environmental factors present in parasports (attitudes, support, services, assistive technology and policies). In addition, we present the concurrent validation of the Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA-Br)., Materials and Methods: Sixty-three adult Paralympic athletes with physical and/or visual impairment who practiced goalball, wheelchair tennis, table tennis, sitting volleyball, rugby, swimming, equestrianism, weightlifting, track and field, archery, bocce ball and parabadminton were analysed. Sociodemographic questionnaires, ATDPA-Br and QUEST B were used for data collection and analysed by 5% significance level ( p  < 0.05)., Results: The findings showed a predominance of athletes with spinal cord injury playing rugby (11) and parabadminton (9), 25.4% exhibited low sociodemographic levels, 36.5% required a wheelchair and 9.6% used prostheses. Although 90.5% of participants reported that assistive technology helped them in their sport, they also expressed dissatisfaction with the services provided. There was a significant correlation between satisfaction with the device in the QUEST instrument and the positive psychosocial factors of the ATDPA-Br, meaning the larger the number of positive factors, the greater the satisfaction with the device., Conclusion: This study showed the predominance of low-income parathletes and that environmental factor as access to the benefits of public policies, it may be a barrier to participation in parasports. Also, the technology and the services provided should act as facilitators to parasport performance.Implications for rehabilitationUnderstand the objectives of assistive technology in paralympic sports.Identify the environmental factors present in parasports (attitudes, support, services, assistive technology, and policies).Analyze the relationship between environmental factors present in parasports (attitudes, support, services, assistive technology, and policies).Have access to the concurrent validation of the Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA-Br).

Aims: To investigate the impact of Plasmodium vivax malaria and chloroquine-primaquine chemotherapy on CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 activity in patients from the Brazilian Amazon., Methods: Adult patients (n = 30) were given subtherapeutic doses of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 phenotypic probes metoprolol (10 mg) and omeprazole (2 mg) in three different stages of vivax malaria illness: acute disease (study phase 1), post chemotherapy (phase 2) and convalescence (stage 3). Plasma concentrations of probes and CYP-hydroxylated metabolites (α-OH metoprolol and 5-OH omeprazole) were measured using LC/MS/MS. Two pharmacokinetic metrics were used to estimate CYP activity: (a) ratio of plasma concentrations of probe/metabolite at 240 minutes after administration of the probes and (b) ratio of areas under the time-concentration curves for probe/metabolite (AUC 0-12h ). For statistical analysis, the pharmacokinetic metrics were normalized to the respective values in phase 3. Taqman assays were used for CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genotyping. Cytokines levels were measured using cytometric bead array., Results: Both pharmacokinetic metrics for metoprolol and omeprazole, and plasma concentrations of cytokines IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 varied significantly across the three study phases (ANOVA P < 0.0001). Post hoc tests showed greater metoprolol:α-OH metoprolol ratios in phases 1 and 2 compared to phase 3, larger omeprazole:5-OH omeprazole ratios in phase 1 than in phases 2 and 3, and higher circulating IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in phase 1 than in phases 2 and 3., Conclusion: P. vivax malaria and treatment altered CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 metabolic phenotypes. CYP2C19 inhibition is attributed to a higher level of circulating proinflammatory cytokines, while suppression of CYP2D6 is ascribed mainly to chloroquine exposure., (© 2020 British Pharmacological Society.)

A correction to the recent revision of the genus Hemidactylus Goldfuss, 1820 from Angola is presented. The previous revision assigned some historical specimens to H. bayonii and H. nzingae, with one specimen even being considered a paratype of the latter taxon. A review of the morphological data of all of the specimens used in the previous study found that two other undescribed taxa, morphologically similar to H. bayonii and H. nzingae, respectively, were overlooked. We here present a re-description of these specimens and provide the diagnostic characters that allow their recognition as two new species, both endemic to Angola. In order to provide an accurate picture of the diversity of Hemidactylus in the country and to correct our previous misidentifications that could lead to some taxonomic instability, we herein describe H. hannasabinae sp. nov. and H. vernayi sp. nov.

At present the genus Lygodactylus is represented by three species in Angola confirmed by voucher specimens-L. angolensis, L. bradfieldi, and L. capensis-and two others believed to be present, but without specimens with precise localities, L. chobiensis and L. lawrencei. We present a detailed taxonomic revision of the group in Angola and describe three new species, Lygodactylus baptistai sp. nov. L. nyaneka sp. nov. and Lygodactylus tchokwe sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis using the mitochondrial marker ND2, as well as morphological data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, data suggest that specimens historically assigned to L. capensis in Angola represent misidentifications of L. nyaneka sp. nov. and L. tchokwe sp. nov. We revisit the identity of Lygodactylus laurae, a junior synonym of L. angolensis. We also present the first confirmed record of L. lawrencei in the country, using both morphological and molecular data. The description of the new species and the revision of the taxonomic identity of the Angolan populations of the genus, raises the number of species occurring in the country to five. A key to the Angolan species is presented.

Two species of Bush Vipers, genus Atheris Cope, 1862, have been reported for the continental island of Bioko, Gulf of Guinea - Atheris squamigera and a putatively undescribed species, morphologically similar to Atheris chlorechis. The latter was only known from one specimen collected in the early 1900s and its taxonomic identity has never been fully resolved. Based on recently collected specimens of Atheris from Bioko Island, we reviewed all the available data and specimens through detailed morphological comparisons against all known species of the genus. Our results confirm that Atheris squamigera is present in Bioko Island, and that the second taxon is a new species, which we describe here as Atheris hetfieldi sp. nov. The newly described species presents a series of morphological characters that clearly differentiate it from all of its congeners. The description of this new species is the first of a new snake species from Bioko in more than 100 years and this species is the only snake currently recognized as endemic to the island.

Allopurinol is the most commonly used drug for the treatment of hyperuricemia in people, and in view of the risks of fatal hypersensitivity in patients with renal dysfunction, doses based on the glomerular filtration rate are proposed. In veterinary medicine, allopurinol is used in the treatment of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) caused by Leishmania infantum owing to the drug action of inhibiting the parasite's RNA synthesis. However, renal dysfunction frequently ensues from disease progression in dogs. The purpose of the present study was to standardize and validate a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS/MS) method to determine the concentration of allopurinol and its active metabolite oxypurinol in canine urine for clinical pharmacokinetic investigation. Urine samples of eleven (11) dogs with naturally occurring CanL and in the maintenance phase of the treatment with alopurinol were used. For the chromatographic analysis of urine, the mobile phase consisted of a solution of 0.1 % formic acid (88 %) in 10 mM ammonium acetate. Separation of allopurinol and oxypurinol occurred in a flow of 0.8 mL/min on a C8 reverse phase column 5 μm, and acyclovir was the internal standard. The HPLC-MS/MS method was validated by reaching the limits of detection and quantification, reproducibility and linearity. The lower limit of quantification achieved by the method was 10 μg/mL for both allopurinol and oxypurinol. Calibration curves were prepared in blank urine added with allopurinol at concentrations of 10-1000 μg/mL, and oxypurinol at 10-200 μg/mL. Coefficients of variation of less than 15 % between intracurrent and intercurrent accuracy values were observed for both allopurinol and oxypurinol. Urine test samples remained stable after being subjected to freeze-thaw cycles and remaining at room temperature for 4 h. The method proved to be adequate to quantify allopurinol and oxypurinol in urine samples from dogs under treatment., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study shows the development and validation of two enantioselective LC-MS/MS methods for the determination of fexofenadine in biological matrices including the elution order determination. Plasma (200 µL) or urine (50 µL) aliquots were added to the internal standard solution [(S)-(-)-metoprolol] and extracted in the acid medium with chloroform. Resolution of the (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-)-fexofenadine enantiomers was performed in a Chirobiotic V column. The methods showed linearity at the range of 0.025-100 ng/mL plasma and 0.02-10 µg/mL urine for each fexofenadine enantiomer. These methods were applied to the maternal-fetal pharmacokinetics of fexofenadine enantiomers in plasma and urine of parturient women (n = 8) treated with a single oral 60 mg dose of racemic fexofenadine. Enantiomeric ratio in plasma (AUC 0-∞( R )-(+)/( S )-( - ) ) was close to 1.5, nevertheless in urine was closed to unity. The transplacental transfer was approximately 18% for both fexofenadine enantiomers. The enantioselective methods can also be useful in future clinical studies of chiral discrimination of drug transporters., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Different methods have been used for CYP3A phenotyping, such as probe drugs or the urinary index 6β-hydroxycortisol/cortisol ratio (6β-OHF:C). This work describes a simple and affordable method for the simultaneous determination of the endogenous compounds cortisol and 6β-hydroxycortisol in urine using a background subtraction approach. The method was applied to investigate the CYP3A activity in HIV-infected pregnant women (n = 9) in the third trimester and postpartum periods. Also, the within-day variability in the 6β-OHF:C index was also evaluated. The sample preparation consists of a pre-cleanup with acetonitrile followed by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate. The analytes were resolved by employing an Acquity UPLC®BEH C18 column with a mobile phase that consisted of a mixture of acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid and 0.1% formic acid in gradient mode. The method presented linearities of 1-1.000 ng/mL and 2-1.000 ng/mL for C and 6β-OHF, respectively, and presented acceptable precision and accuracy. Qualitative and quantitative matrix effects tests were also performed. A high 6β-OHF:C within-day variability was observed in both phases. In the third trimester period, the 6β-OHF:C ranged from 2.57 to 51.69, with a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of 15.12 ± 5.41 (n = 9). Similar values were obtained in the postpartum period, with 6β-OHF:C ranging from 3.48 to 44.54 with a mean ± SD of 14.37 ± 5.73 (n = 7). Even though the 6β-OHF:C is a non-invasive index for CYP3A phenotyping, its use is susceptible to high within-day variability., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bupivacaine, a local anesthetic, is commercialized as a racemic mixture of R-bupivacaine and S-bupivacaine enantiomers. HIV infection increases the expression of placental P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and antiretroviral (ARV) therapy inhibits cytochrome P450 3A and P-gp. The present study evaluates the kinetic disposition of bupivacaine enantiomers in HIV-infected parturient women on ARV therapy. In this study, HIV-infected parturient women (n = 10) treated with zidovudine, lamivudine, lopinavir, and ritonavir were investigated. Anesthesia and/or analgesia was achieved by the administration of 0.5% racemic bupivacaine hydrochloride with 1:200000 epinephrine in the epidural space at doses of 2.5 to 22.5 mg. Maternal serial blood samples were obtained at the time immediately before and 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 hours after administration of the bupivacaine. At the time of delivery, samples of maternal and umbilical cord vein blood were also collected. The results suggest that bupivacaine pharmacokinetics are enantioselective, revealing higher maternal plasma concentrations of the R-bupivacaine enantiomer (area under the total plasma concentration-time curve was calculated by the trapezoid method with extrapolation to infinity/dose (S)/(R) = 0.91; P < .05). The plasma unbound fraction of the drug (0.09 vs 0.06) and the umbilical cord vein/maternal plasma ratio (0.47 vs 0.39) were higher for the R-bupivacaine enantiomer than the S-bupivacaine enantiomer (P < .05). ARV therapy with ritonavir confers an enantioselective interaction between the enantiomers of bupivacaine and placental P-gp, producing greater inhibition of efflux transport of the R-bupivacaine enantiomer. Possible changes in the well-being of the fetuses of mothers under analgesia may be a consequence of the increased placental transfer of bupivacaine enantiomers to the fetal circulation., (© 2019, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

The genus Panaspis in Angola is represented by four species, most of them part of taxonomically and nomenclaturally challenging species-complexes. We present a taxonomic revision of the group in the region and describe one new species, Panaspis mocamedensis sp. nov., endemic to the lowland areas of the Namibe province, southwestern Angola. Phylogenetic analysis using a combination of mitochondrial (16S, cytb) and nucleares (RAG1, PDC) markers, as well as morphological and meristic data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, these data support the presence of nominotypical Panaspis cabindae, P. wahlbergi and P. maculicollis in Angola. Reexamination of the Angolan population of P. breviceps was based on morphological analysis, as no molecular data from Angola is available for this species. According to our results, this population likely represents the nominotypical form, but due to its complex taxonomic and nomenclatural history and the lack of molecular data, this population needs to be reconsidered when molecular data become available. The description of a new species and revision of the Angolan Panaspis contributes to a better understanding of the true species richness of the Angolan herpetofauna, as well as to understanding the major biogeographic patterns of the region. A key to Angolan Panaspis species is also presented.

The genus Hemidactylus in Angola is represented by six species, all of them part of taxonomically and nomenclaturally challenging species complexes. We present a detailed taxonomic revision of the group in the region and describe two new species, Hemidactylus nzingae sp. nov. and Hemidactylus paivae sp. nov., both occuring in and potentially endemic to the highlands of Angola. Phylogenetic analysis using a combination of mitochondrial (ND2) and nuclear (MXRA5, PDC, RAG1) markers, as well as morphological and scalation data support the recognition of the new species. In addition, data support the revalidation of Hemidactylus bayonii Bocage, 1893, and Hemidactylus benguellensis Bocage, 1893. We also provide a redefinition of Hemidactylus longicephalus Bocage, 1873 with which we synonymize Hemidactylus mabouia molleri Bedriaga, 1892, from São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea. Given that the type material of H. bayonii, H. benguellensis, H. longicephalus and H. mabouia molleri have all been lost or destroyed, we designate neotypes for all of these nomina for purposes of nomenclatural stability. The description of the new species and the revision and revalidation of the Angolan species already described contributes to a better understanding of the taxonomy and biogeography of West and Central African Hemidactylus, as well as to the general biogeographic and evolutionary patterns of Angolan fauna. A key to the Angolan species is also presented.

Raltegravir (RAL) is a HIV-integrase inhibitor recommended for treatment of HIV type 1 infection during pregnancy. The elimination of RAL to RAL glucuronide (RAL GLU) is mediated primarily by UDP glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1). The present study shows the development and validation of 4 different methods for the analysis of RAL and RAL GLU in plasma and in urine samples. The methods were applied to evaluate the maternal-fetal pharmacokinetics of RAL and RAL GLU in a HIV-infected pregnant woman receiving RAL 400 mg twice daily. The sample preparation for RAL and RAL GLU analysis in 25 μL plasma and 100 μL diluted urine (10-fold with water containing 0.1% formic acid) were carried out by protein precipitation procedure. RAL and RAL GLU generate similar product mass fragments and require separation in the chromatographic system, so a suitable resolution was achieved for unchanged RAL and RAL GLU employing Ascentis Express C18 (75 × 4.6 mm, 2.7 μm) for both plasma and urine samples. The methods showed linearities at the ranges of 0.1-13.5 μg/mL RAL and 0.15-19.5 μg/mL RAL GLU in urine and 10-2000 ng/mL RAL and 2.5-800 RAL GLU in plasma. Precise and accurate evaluation showed coefficients of variation and relative errors ≤ 15%. The methods have been successfully applied in a maternal-fetal pharmacokinetic study., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Tamoxifen is considered a prodrug of its active metabolite endoxifen, which is dependent on the CYP2D6 and CYP3A enzymes. Tamoxifen pharmacokinetic variability influences endoxifen exposure and, consequently, its clinical outcome. This study investigated the impact of hormonal status on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its metabolites in TAM-treated breast cancer patients., Methods: TAM-treated breast cancer patients (n = 40) previously believed to have CYP3A activity within the normal range based on oral midazolam and phenotyped as CYP2D6 normal metabolizers using oral metoprolol were divided into two groups according to premenopausal (n = 20; aged 35-50 years) or postmenopausal (n = 20; aged 60-79 years) status. All patients were treated with 20 mg/day tamoxifen for at least three months. Serial plasma samples were collected within the 24 h dose interval for analysis of unchanged tamoxifen, endoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen quantified by LC-MS/MS. CYP activities were assessed using midazolam apparent clearance (CYP3A) and the metoprolol/alfa-hydroxymetoprolol plasma metabolic ratio (CYP2D6). CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP2D6 SNPs and copy number variation were investigated using TaqMan assays., Results: Postmenopausal status increased steady-state plasma concentrations (Css) of tamoxifen (116.95 vs 201.23 ng/mL), endoxifen (8.01 vs 18.87 ng/mL), N-desmethyltamoxifen (485.16 vs 843.88 ng/mL) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (2.67 vs 4.11 ng/mL). The final regression models included hormonal status as the only predictor for Css of tamoxifen [β-coef ± SE, p-value (75.03 ± 17.71, p = 0.0001)] and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (1.7822 ± 0.4385, p = 0.0002), while endoxifen Css included hormonal status (8.578 ± 3.402, p = 0.02) and race (11.945 ± 2.836, p = 0.007). For N-desmethyltamoxifen Css, the final model was correlated with hormonal status (286.259 ± 76.766, p = 0.0007) and weight (- 8.585 ± 3.060, p = 0.008)., Conclusion: The premenopausal status was associated with decreased endoxifen plasma concentrations by 135% compared to postmenopausal status. Thus, the endoxifen plasma concentrations should be monitored mainly in the premenopausal period to maintain plasma levels above the efficacy threshold value., Trial Registration: RBR-7tqc7k.

Atorvastatin (ATV) and its two active metabolites, o-hydroxy atorvastatin acid (o-OH-ATV) and p-hydroxy atorvastatin acid (p-OH-ATV) are responsible for its HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme-A) reductase inhibitory activity, while its corresponding inactive lactone forms (LAC) are related to the manifestation of myopathy. The present study reports the development and validation of a method for the simultaneous analysis of ATV and its five metabolites (o-OH-ATV, p-OH-ATV, ATV-LAC, o-OH-ATV-LAC, p-OH-ATV-LAC) as total plasma concentration and ATV as unbound plasma concentration using UPLC-MS/MS. The method was applied in a pharmacokinetic study following administration of a single oral 20, 40 or 80 mg ATV dose in healthy volunteers (n = 15). ATV and its five metabolites were separated on a C18 column using as mobile phase a mixture of 0.2% formic acid and acetonitrile (55:45, v/v) at a flow of 0.4 mL/min. The method showed linearity from 25 pg/mL to 200 ng/mL plasma as total concentration and from 6.25 pg to 25 ng/mL plasma ultrafiltrate as ATV unbound concentration. The coefficients of variation and the relative standard errors of the accuracy and precision analyses were <15%. The method allowed quantification of plasma concentrations of ATV and its five metabolites up to 36 h after 20, 40 or 80 mg ATV administration. The pharmacokinetic parameters dose normalized to 20 mg are presented as follow (n = 15, mean): unbound fraction 9.38%, maximum plasma concentration 9.52 ng/mL, time to reach maximum plasma concentration 0.98 h, apparent total clearance 742.90 L/h, apparent distribution volume 9005 L, and AUC metabolite/ATV ratios 0.06 for p-OH-ATV, 0.94 for o-OH-ATV, 1.43 for ATV-LAC, 0.25 for p-OH-ATV-LAC and 1.75 for o-OH-ATV-LAC. In conclusion, the methods for simultaneous analysis of ATV and its five metabolites as total plasma concentration and ATV as the unbound plasma concentration showed sensitivity, linearity, precision and accuracy compatible with application in pharmacokinetic studies of single oral dose of 20, 40 or 80 mg ATV., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new species of rupicolous girdled lizard is described from Serra da Neve Inselberg, Namibe Province, southwestern Angola. We sequenced two mitochondrial gene regions (16S and ND2) for the new species and compared these data with those previously published for other Cordylus species. The new species is genetically divergent from the closely related Cordylus machadoi and C. namakuiyus and morphologically distinguished by head scale arrangement, coloration, and osteological characters. Serra da Neve is the second highest peak in Angola and one of the most understudied areas of the country. The discovery of this new species highlights the importance of this inselberg for regional endemism and emphasizes the high conservation importance of the area.

Objective: The recurrence rate in the treatment of liver tumors using radio frequency ablation (RFA) is often related to incomplete tissue necrosis and consequently the limitation in the ablation volume. This paper proposes an ablation protocol combined with the infusion of saline solution and deionized water aiming at achieving a time displacement in the roll-off occurrence and consequently increasing the volume of ablation., Methods: An infusion of saline solution and deionized water at 5 and 23  ° C was performed to evaluate the influence of these liquids on the RFA procedure in ex vivo bovine liver pieces. The obtained results were used to propose a mathematical model of the roll-off phenomenon by means of the system identification techniques., Results: The RFA combined with the infusion of saline solution 0.9% at 5  ° C presented optimal results, with a time delay of the roll-off occurrence in 27.8% compared to pure RFA ( p = 0.002) and an increase in the necrotic volume of 51.2% ( p = 0.0002). Two Box-Jenkins models were obtained to describe the roll-off phenomenon: 1) pure RFA; and 2) RFA combined with the saline solution 0.9% at 5  ° C., Conclusion: The RFA therapy combined with the saline solution 0.9% at 5  ° C increases the time range to the roll-off occurrence, leading to higher necrosis volumes in ex vivo bovine liver samples. The development of a mathematical model to describe the roll-off behavior demonstrated that the transient response is improved by the infusion of the saline solution 0.9% at 5  ° C.

This study analyzes the effects of the Rapha ® system, which employs red light therapy (RLT) and a natural latex biomembrane in the healing of neuropathic ulcers associated with the diabetic foot. We conducted a randomized, controlled, blinded clinical trial with 15 participants that were divided into three groups (GI, GII and GIII): (i) Rapha ® system application by the participant and a health professional at home, with clinical status evaluation every 2 weeks at the hospital (GI); (ii) standard protocol used in Brazil, performed by a health professional at the hospital (GII; control); and (iii) the Rapha ® system applied by the participant at home and clinical status evaluation every 2 weeks at the hospital (GIII). We used image processing techniques on photographic recordings of the lesions, and several statistical tests were used to analyze the data, allowing for the comparison of the average results for all groups. The average healing rates of GI, GII, and GIII were 77.0, 51.4, and 80%, respectively. The granulation tissue evaluation indicated a higher efficacy in the tissue repair of lesions treated with the Rapha ® system. In conclusion, the Rapha ® system proved to be an effective healing system, even when self-applied at the patient's home.

Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are relatively unknown in terms of their herpetological diversity. Based on specimens collected in the Congolese region of the Katanga and the northeast of Angola during the first decades of the twentieth century, de Witte and Laurent independently suggested, based on morphological and coloration differences, that populations of T. megalura of these regions could belong a new "race". We compared specimens of T. megalura (including the type specimens of T. megalura and T. massaiana) with Angolan and Katangan museum specimens as well as newly collected specimens from Angola. Coloration pattern and morphological characters, in combination with substantial divergence in the 16S mitochondrial gene, confirm the distinctiveness of the west Central African form, and it is here described as a new species. Data regarding its natural history, ecology and global distribution are presented.

Bupivacaine, a drug used in obstetric anesthesia and analgesia, is commercially available as a racemic mixture of the R-bupivacaine and S-bupivacaine enantiomers, which show differences in pharmacokinetics, efficacy and toxicity. Changes in bupivacaine plasma protein binding is of clinical relevance considering its high protein binding (approximately 95%) and its classification as an intermediate hepatic extraction ratio drug (E = 0.38). Furthermore, the plasma protein binding of bupivacaine is also of clinical relevance considering that pregnancy is a physiological condition associated with reduced plasma albumin concentration. Also, different pathological conditions, such as pre-eclampsia, can reduce the maternal plasma protein concentrations and consequently increase the bupivacaine placental transfer. This report describes the development and validation of analytical methods for the sequential analysis of the total and unbound concentrations of bupivacaine enantiomers in human plasma using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a sensitivity compatible with application in pharmacokinetic studies including placental transfer. Aliquots of 200 μL of plasma or plasma ultra-filtrate were extracted with n-hexane in alkaline medium after the deproteinization of the matrix with acetonitrile and water. The separation of bupivacaine enantiomers was obtained on a Chirex® 3020 chiral stationary phase column using as a mobile phase a mixture of 95% n-hexane:ethanol (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The lower limit of quantification was 0.25 ng of each enantiomer/mL of plasma as the total concentration and 0.125 ng of each enantiomer/mL of plasma as the unbound concentration. The methods were applied to study the pharmacokinetics of bupivacaine enantiomers after the administration of 2.5 mg of 0.5% racemic bupivacaine hydrochloride with 1:200,000 epinephrine via the epidural route to an HIV-positive parturient woman undergoing antiretroviral treatment. The parturient showed lower AUC 0-∞ (25.42 vs. 30.57 ng.h/mL) and higher volume of distribution (841.96 vs 655.05 L) and total clearance (98.34 vs 81.79 L/h) for the R-bupivacaine enantiomer. The pharmacokinetics of bupivacaine were enantioselective displaying a lower plasma proportion of the enantiomer R-bupivacaine (AUC (R)/(S) ratio equal to 0.83). The placental transfer was approximately 60% for both bupivacaine enantiomers. The unbound fraction (Fu) for the R-bupivacaine enantiomer was higher (10.84%) than the eutomer S-bupivacaine (6.29%)., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

African pygmy toads of the genus Poyntonophrynus are some of the least known species of African toads. The genus comprises ten recognized species endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, five of which are restricted to southwestern Africa. Recent field research in Angola provided new material for three species of Poyntonophrynus , including a morphologically distinctive population from the Serra da Neve Inselberg. Based on a combination of external morphology, high-resolution computed tomography scanning, and molecular phylogenetic analysis, the Serra da Neve population is described as new species that is nested within the genus. The most striking character that differentiates the newly described species from its congeners is the lack of a tympanic middle ear, a condition common in the family Bufonidae, but so far not known for Poyntonophrynus . The description of this new species from southwestern Angola reinforces the biogeographic importance of the region and further suggests that southwestern Africa is the cradle of diversity for this genus.

Five problematic cases regarding the presence of reptile taxa on the island of São Tomé (Gulf of Guinea) are reviewed. These cases deal with 1) the past presence of crocodilians in the island, 2) the putative type locality of Dipsas pulverulenta Fischer, 1856, 3) the dubious presence of a mamba (genus Dendroaspis) on the island, 4) an erroneous reference to the presence of Gastropyxis smaragdina, and 5) two specimens (Psammophis lineatus and Psammophis elegans) from Carl Weiss collection, currently deposited in the Zoological Museum of Hamburg and wrongly labelled as being from São Tomé island. A provisional checklist to the terrestrial herpetofauna of the three oceanic islands of the Gulf of Guinea-São Tomé, Príncipe and Annobon-is presented in order to clarify the current numbers of the endemics of each island, as well as to review and present current research.

This study describes the development and validation of a method for the analysis of unbound plasma concentrations of oxcarbazepine (OXC) and of the enantiomers of its active metabolite 10-hydroxycarbazepine (MHD) [S-(+)- and R-(-)-MHD] using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Additionally, the free fraction of the drug is described in healthy volunteers (n=12) after the oral administration of 300mg OXC/12h for 5days. Plasma aliquots of 200μL were submitted to ultrafiltration procedure and 50μL of the ultrafiltrate were extracted with a mixture of tert-butyl methyl ether:dichloromethane (2:1, v/v). OXC and the MHD enantiomers were separated on a OD-H chiral phase column. The method was linear in the range of 4.0-2.0μg/mL for OXC and of 20.0-6.0μg/mL plasma for the MHD enantiomers. The limit of quantification was 4ng for OXC and 20ng for each MHD enantiomer/mL plasma. The intra- and inter-day precision and inaccuracy were less than 15%. The free fraction at the time of peak plasma concentration of OXC was 0.27 for OXC, 0.37 for S-(+)-MHD and 0.42 for R-(-)-MHD. Enantioselectivity in the free fraction of MHD was observed, with a higher proportion of R-(-)-MHD compared to S-(+)-MHD., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Scale-down approaches have long been applied in bioprocessing to resolve scale-up problems. Miniaturized bioreactors have thrived as a tool to obtain process relevant data during early-stage process development. Microfluidic devices are an attractive alternative in bioprocessing development due to the high degree of control over process variables afforded by the laminar flow, and the possibility to reduce time and cost factors. Data quality obtained with these devices is high when integrated with sensing technology and is invaluable for scale-translation and to assess the economical viability of bioprocesses. Microfluidic devices as upstream process development tools have been developed in the area of small molecules, therapeutic proteins, and cellular therapies. More recently, they have also been applied to mimic downstream unit operations.

Aims: Diabetes mellitus can inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4, an enzyme responsible for the metabolism of nifedipine, used for the treatment of hypertension in pregnant women. We aimed to assess the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the pharmacokinetics, placental transfer and distribution of nifedipine in amniotic fluid in hypertensive pregnant women., Methods: The study was conducted in 12 hypertensive pregnant women [control group (CG)] and 10 hypertensive pregnant women with T2DM taking slow-release nifedipine (20 mg, 12/12 h). On the 34th week of gestation, serial blood samples were collected (0-12 h) after administration of the medication. At delivery, samples of maternal and fetal blood and amniotic fluid were collected for determination of nifedipine distribution in these compartments., Results: The median pharmacokinetic parameters of CG were: peak plasma concentration (C max ) 26.41 ng ml -1 , time to reach C max (t max ) 1.79 h, area under the plasma concentration vs. time curve from 0-12 h (AUC 0-12 ) 235.99 ng.h ml -1 , half-life (t½) 4.34 h, volume of distribution divided by bioavailability (Vd/F) 560.96 l, and Cl T /F 84.77 l h -1 . The parameters for T2DM group were: C max 23.52 ng ml -1 , t max 1.48 h, AUC 0-12 202.23 ng.h ml -1 , t½ 5.00 h, Vd/F 609.40 l, and apparent total clearance (Cl T /F) 98.94 l h -1 . The ratios of plasma concentrations of nifedipine in the umbilical vein, intervillous space and amniotic fluid to those in the maternal vein for CG and T2DM were 0.53 and 0.44, 0.78 and 0.87, respectively, with an amniotic fluid/maternal plasma ratio of 0.05 for both groups. The ratios of plasma concentrations in the umbilical artery to those in the umbilical vein were 0.82 for CG and 0.88 for T2DM., Conclusions: There was no influence of T2DM on the pharmacokinetics or placental transfer of nifedipine in hypertensive women with controlled diabetes., (© 2017 The British Pharmacological Society.)

A metabolomics study of Pd 2 Spermine(Spm) on osteosarcoma MG-63 and osteoblastic HOb cells is presented to assess the impact of the potential palladium drug on cell metabolism compared with cisplatin (cDDP). Despite its higher cytotoxicity, Pd 2 Spm induced lower (and reversible) metabolic impact on MG-63 cells and the absence of apoptosis; conversely, it induced significant deviations in osteoblastic amino acid metabolism. However, when in combination with doxorubicin and methotrexate, Pd 2 Spm induced strong metabolic deviations on lipids, choline compounds, amino acids, nucleotides, and compounds related to antioxidative mechanisms (e.g., glutathione, inositol, hypoxanthine), similarly to the cDDP cocktail. Synergetic effects included triggering of lipid biosynthesis by Pd 2 Spm in the presence of doxorubicin (and reinforced by methotrexate) and changes in the glycosylation substrate uridine diphosphate acetylgalactosamine and methionine and serine metabolisms. This work provides promising results related to the impact of Pd 2 Spm on osteosarcoma cellular metabolism, particularly in drug combination protocols. Lipid metabolism, glycosylation, and amino acid metabolisms emerge as relevant features for targeted studies to further understand a potential anticancer mechanism of combined Pd 2 Spm.