Biomedical subjects

A A Vitale

Publications and source records attributed to A A Vitale.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Nonpolar lipid composition of Chenopodium album grown in continuously cultivated and nondisturbed soils.

Chenopodium album L. plants grown in continuously cultivated and in nondisturbed soils were compared in terms of the compositions of nonpolar extracts of the corresponding aerial parts. Both light petroleum ether extracts of C. album L. were analyzed by high-performance thin-layer LC, capillary GC, and capillary GC-EI-MS. Further percolation and medium-pressure LC, along with EI-MS analysis, permitted the separation and identification of the chemical constituents. Differences were observed between mean contents of the chemical constituents of C. album L., with respect to nonpolar extracts, obtained from continuously cultivated and from nondisturbed soils, in particular in linear and branched long-chain hydrocarbons, FA and their esters, and long-chain linear alcohols and aldehydes. The most remarkable features of the disturbed soils were a pronounced increase in the amounts of linear hydrocarbons and a decrease in the relative proportions of FA.

Alcohols↗

PubMed1999

Ayahoasca: an experimental psychosis that mirrors the transmethylation hypothesis of schizophrenia.

The experimental psychosis observed after drinking Ayahoasca, a South American hallucinogenic beverage from the Amazon Indians, reproduces the pathologic transmethylation theory of schizophrenia. This theory postulates a decrease in the monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, which results in the accumulation of methylated indolealkylamines, such as bufotenin (5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine. These substances are strong hallucinogens as has been previously confirmed experimentally. On the other hand, it is known that Ayahoasca is a beverage usually prepared by boiling two plants, one of them rich in beta-carbolines, which are naturally occurring strong inhibitors of MAO, and the other with high quantities of DMT. This particular combination reproduces what is supposed to occur under pathologic conditions of different psychoses. The effects of Ayahoasca were studied in subjects, assessing urine levels of DMT by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) before and after the intake of the beverage. The results of this study confirm that the hallucinogenic compounds detected in the healthy subjects' (post-Hoasca, but not before) urine samples are the same as those found in samples from acute psychotic unmedicated patients. The chemical composition of the Ayahoasca beverage, and of the plant material used for its preparation are also reported as well as psychometric and neuroendocrine subject parameters.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗

PubMed1996

Highly sensitive method for the determination of melatonin by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection.

In the present study a new chromatographic method was developed to quantify melatonin in rat pineal that can be extended to other tissues. Melatonin was extracted from an acid homogenate with ethyl acetate to avoid amine interference. HPLC was performed with silica normal-phase column and fluorescence detection. This method is sensitive enough for detecting melatonin in a single pineal gland with a detection limit of 3 pg/mg tissue.

Acetates↗

PubMed1995

Alkaloids of Datura ferox from Argentina.

Chromatographic procedures (HPLC, GC-MS) are outlined in this paper for the analysis of alkaloids in poisonous Datura ferox seeds of Argentina, from which previously only quantitative analysis for scopolamine was known. Five additional tropane alkaloids are now identified as 3 alpha-tigloyloxytropane (tigloyltropeine), 3-phenylacetoxy-6 beta,7 beta-epoxytropane (3-phenylacetoxyscopine), aposcopolamine (apohyoscine), 7 beta-hydroxy-6 beta-propenyloxy-3 alpha-tropoyloxytropane, traces of 7 beta-hydroxy-6 beta-isovaleroyloxy-3 alpha-tigloyloxytropane and a pyrrolidine alkaloid, hygrine. Two new structures, 3-phenylacetoxy-6 beta,7 beta-epoxytropane (3-phenylacetoxyscopine) and 7 beta-hydroxy-6 beta-propenyloxy-3 alpha-tropolyoxytropane, are proposed on the basis of their spectra. Hyoscyamine, nicotine and tropane N-oxides were not detected in all samples studied.

Alkaloids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Degradation of naphthalene-2-sulfonate by strains of Micromonospora].

It was possible to isolate several strains of Micromonospora sp. from waters of Rio Reconquista. They all were filamentous bacteria with lateral spores, highly resistant to Cr(III) and another heavy metal cations. All these strains were able to grow on naphthalene-2-sulphonate as sole carbon source in a mineral medium. The biodegradation of the xenobiotic proceeds via the formation of salicylate and gentisate. These compounds have been isolated and mass spectrometry identified.

Argentina↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A decalin-consuming bacterial community.

A bacterial community able to degrade cis- and trans-decalin (decahydronaphthalene) in the presence of n-decane could be isolated. It was composed by a couple of Pseudomonas strains (D1 and D2, respectively). Neither the community nor the isolated strains were able to grow on decalin alone. D1 grew on decalin plus n-decane. Both could grow on n-decyl alcohol, acetate and adipate. From hydrocarbonated substrates it would be generated a metabolic chain which allows the growth of the community members, and then it resulted to be stable. Characteristics of both strains are described.

Acetates↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[2-Naphthalene-sulphonic acid degrading microorganisms].

Derivatives of anionic surfactants, specially naphthalene sulphonates, when discharged into natural waters are accumulated in waters and sediments because of their poor biodegradability. A four-membered bacterial community, able to degrade the sodium salt of 2-naphthalene-sulphonic acid (2NS), was isolated from Río Reconquista. All the isolated strains consisted of gram-negative, strictly aerobic rods, with a strong proteolytic activity and resistance to high levels of cations like Cr (III), Hg (II), Cd (II) and Pb (II). Some of them were resistant to gentamicin, amikacin and chloramphenicol. These strains appeared to be related to the genera Pseudomonas and Alcaligenes. When isolated, if growing on 2NS, a brown-dark pigment is formed by three of them, resulting in an inhibition of growth. The presence of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain avoided the production of pigment and resulting in a complete consume of 2NS.

Alcaligenes↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Biodegradation of a commercial mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls].

A bacterial strain capable of growing on a commercial mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was isolated from PCBs-contaminated soil. The isolate was identified as a Klebsiella oxytoca strain, able to grow on 6-chloroquinoline and chlorobenzene. The above mentioned PCBs mixture contains several congeners of bi-, tri- and tetra-chloro biphenyls. Xenobiotic consumption could be measured by an assay in glass-stoppered flask. After three days PCBs were almost completely degraded with the production of phenolic and/or acidic products, that were consumed after seven days.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗