Zn/La Mixed Oxides Prepared by Coprecipitation: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Studies.

Mixed oxides containing zinc and lanthanum were prepared by coprecipitation in alkaline medium, followed by calcination at 400 °C. The initial precipitation product and the calcined form were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method adsorption of nitrogen at -196 °C, Scanning Electron Microscopy/Electron-Probe Microanalysis (SEM/EPM), Ultraviolet-Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-DRS) and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The band gap slightly changes from 3.23 eV to 3 eV by calcination. The photocatalytic performance of the solids were investigated in diluted aqueous medium, by using clofibric acid (CA), a stable and toxic molecule used as precursor in some pesticides and drugs, as test compound, possibly found in the wastewaters in low concentrations. The effects of the degradation extent, determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements, were investigated at different initial concentrations of CA. Within about 60 min the CA degradation is almost total at low concentration values (3 ppm) and reaches over 80% in 180 min for an initial concentration of 50 ppm. Moreover, the CA removal performance of photocatalyst remains excellent after three cycles of use: the removal yield was practically total after 60 min in the first two cycles and reached 95% even in the third cycle.

Quantitative Determination of Arsenic Species from Fruit Juices Using Acidic Extraction with HPLC-ICPMS.

Throughout the US Food and Drug Administration's routine monitoring of various juice samples for elemental contaminants, a limited number of samples exhibited unexpected behavior related to the arsenic content. Juice samples were subjected to total arsenic determination and those containing arsenic > 10 µg kg-1 were subjected to arsenic speciation analysis using FDA Elemental Analysis Manual (EAM) 4.10 method (AOAC First Action Method 2016.04) to determine the concentration of iAs and other common organic arsenicals. For a subset of samples, the sum of the arsenic species was significantly less than the total arsenic value (i.e., mass balance < 65%), which is uncommon for a liquid-based matrix. Juice types that have exhibited this behavior include pomegranate, prune, and cherry juices. Causes for this issue were explored which ultimately led to an alternate sample preparation technique, extraction with 0.28 M HNO3 along with heat, which resulted in drastically improved mass balances approaching 100%. The method proved robust, with both accurate and precise measurements for multiple juice samples analyzed by a total of four laboratories. Two laboratories performed a level 3 multilaboratory validation. This work discusses various issues that were encountered, attempts to determine the source of the problem, the eventual solution in the form of a modified extraction procedure, and the multilaboratory validation results.

DNA sequence and expression variation of hop (Humulus lupulus) valerophenone synthase (VPS), a key gene in bitter acid biosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: The hop plant (Humulus lupulus) is a source of many secondary metabolites, with bitter acids essential in the beer brewing industry and others having potential applications for human health. This study investigated variation in DNA sequence and gene expression of valerophenone synthase (VPS), a key gene in the bitter acid biosynthesis pathway of hop. METHODS: Sequence variation was studied in 12 varieties, and expression was analysed in four of the 12 varieties in a series across the development of the hop cone. RESULTS: Nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in VPS, seven of which were synonymous. The two non-synonymous polymorphisms did not appear to be related to typical bitter acid profiles of the varieties studied. However, real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of VPS expression during hop cone development showed a clear link with the bitter acid content. The highest levels of VPS expression were observed in two triploid varieties, 'Symphony' and 'Ember', which typically have high bitter acid levels. CONCLUSIONS: In all hop varieties studied, VPS expression was lowest in the leaves and an increase in expression was consistently observed during the early stages of cone development.

Antinociceptive activity of Buddleja globosa (matico) in several models of pain.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Leaf extracts of Buddleja globosa (Buddlejaceae) are used in Chilean folk medicine for wound healing. The anti-inflammatory (topic and per os), analgesic (per os) effects and the antioxidant activity of Buddleja globosa were for the first time reported by us. AIM OF THE STUDY: Assess the antinociceptive activity of the methanol sequential and global extracts using complementary chemical and thermal models of pain, characterize pharmacologically the antinociception induced, evaluate seasonal influence to support Buddleja globosa medicinal use. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Global methanol, sequential methanol and ethanol (leaves collected in autumn and summer) extracts were evaluated for oral and topic analgesia in tail flick, formalin and writhing models, verbascoside and 7-O-luteolin glucoside were assayed in tail flick and writhing. Ibuprofen was used as reference. For characterization of induced antinociception, naltrexone, naltrindole, tropisetron, nor-binaltorphimine, prazosin, yohimbine, atropine, and N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester were used as antagonists and inhibitors drugs. RESULTS: Seasonal influence was observed since autumn extract resulted less active. Extracts showed a dose-dependent antinociceptive activity in all assays, the highest effects were obtained for the formalin and writhing test. Verbascoside was more active than ibuprofen in the writhing test (67.6% and 50.0% at equimolar doses) and showed similar effects in the tail flick (topic and oral) near 25% at equivalent doses - ED25 or EC25 - to ibuprofen. Luteolin 7-O-glucoside was slightly more active in the tail flick test and nearly half active than verbascoside in the writhing assay. Effectiveness was higher for the sequential than for global alcoholic extracts, and can be increased by selective blocking of opioid receptors. Global methanol extract seems modulated only by naltrexone. CONCLUSIONS: Analgesic effect of Buddleja globosa is here demonstrated validating its use in traditional medicine. Season influence is important to be considered.

Active metabolites from Dunalia spinosa resinous exudates.

Dunalia spinosa, a plant used in folk medicine for toothaches, breathing problems and cleansing wounds, was found active as antimicrobial and antioxidant. A new (E)-aurone rutinoside (dunaurone) has been isolated from the aerial parts of the plant, and its structure was determined by spectroscopic means. Lupeol, beta-sitosterol, scopoletin, quercetin and withaferin A were also found. All the extracts exhibited strong antimicrobial activity while dunaurone showed only weak antimicrobial inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae; in addition it presented a significant free radical scavenging activity.

Anti-inflammatory activity and phenolic profile of propolis from two locations in Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Chile.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Propolis has long been used as a popular folk medicine due to its wide spectrum of alleged biological and pharmaceutical properties. In Chile, propolis is widely used by folklore medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent; however, this property has not been demonstrated by scientific methods. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and in vitro and to establish the phenolic profile of propolis collected in two localities in Región Metropolitana de Santiago (RM), Chile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Propolis was collected in the areas of Caleu and Buin, RM Chile. Following that, the samples were unwaxed to obtain the global ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEPs) and, from these, the serial extracts of dichloromethane (EEP-DCMs) and ethanol (EEP-EtOHs). The topic anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated through mice ear edema induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) at a dose of 3 mg/ear. Nitric oxide (NO) measurements were determined spectrophotometrically (Greiss reagent) by the accumulation of nitrite in the medium of macrophages RAW 264.7 stimulated with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 µg/mL) for 20 h at different concentrations of the EEPs, EEP-DCMs and EEP-EtOHs (6.25-50.00 µg/mL). The content of total phenols and flavonoids were determined through the methods of Folin-Ciocalteau and AlCl3, respectively. The profile of phenolic compounds was determined by HPLC-UV-ESI-MS/MS. RESULTS: The EEP-EtOH (64%) and EEP (59%) of Buin were the most active in the inflammation induced by TPA and AA respectively, being the anti-inflammatory effect stronger than the same Caleu extracts. Regarding the release of NO, all the extracts from the Buin propolis inhibited significantly its release in a concentration-dependent manner, this inhibition was stronger than the extracts from Caleu propolis. CONCLUSIONS: Our research shows for the first time a comparative study of the topical in vivo activity of two Chilean propolis. Both propolis showed in vivo topical anti-inflammatory activity against AA and TPA, the most active was Buin propolis and this difference is due in part to the variations in total phenols and flavonoids content and the phenolic profile. The phenols and flavonoids content of Buin propolis was higher than Caleu propolis. The extracts from Buin propolis result in a lower release of NO.

Identification of phenolic compounds by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and antioxidant activity from Chilean propolis.

Propolis is a complex hive product produced by honey bees, Apis mellifera. Its composition and biological activities depend on the vegetation where hives are placed. Propolis is often used as a food supplement. The aim of this research is to determine the antioxidant properties in vitro and the phenolic composition of six propolis collected from the region of Santiago of Chile. We obtained the ethanolic extracts dry and wax free (EEPs) and studied their antioxidant properties by FRAP, ORAC-FL, ORAC-PGR and DPPH radical methods. The total phenols were quantified by a spectrophotometric method and 30 phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. Curacaví EEP has the highest relative abundance of caffeic acid phenylethyl ester (CAPE) while Buin EEP has the highest relative abundance of caffeic acid benzyl ester and quercetin. Both have the highest antioxidant activity in vitro in all methods used. Our research shows, for the first time, a comparative analysis of the antioxidant activity and phenolic composition of six Chilean propolis. Pinobanksin is the only phenol present in the six samples of propolis so it may be a good candidate for the standardization of propolis ethanolic extracts in the region of Santiago.

Is depression associated with periodontal status in elderly?

Aim: To examine whether the depression is associated with periodontitis in elderly and to evaluate oral hygiene of these patients. Methods: One hundred and ninety one individuals aged 60 yearsor more were randomly selected. Periodontal examination was performed in full mouth by probing depth and clinical attachment loss in 6 sites for each tooth. The Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) per individual was also obtained. Depression was assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) to show how the elderly have been feeling during the last week. Results: Only SOHI was statistically significant (t = 4.7169, p<0.001), which better explains the variance in periodontal status. The variable GDS-15 revealed no significant values (t=0.3901, p=0.6971). Conclusions: There was no association between periodontitis and depression in elderly, but there was association between periodontitis and oral hygiene.

Coberutura del problema de salud escolar ejecutado en el período 1.985 - 1986 por las internas rotativas en las siete escuela de la parroquia de Yaruqui / Coberutura of the executed problem of scholastic health in period 1985 - 1986 by internal the rotating ones in the seven school of the parish of Yaruqui

Esta investigación se realizó considerando que el grupo poblacional de escolares debe constituirse en uno de los de mayor atención, ya que el riesgo de morbi-mortalidad es mayor, lo cual es importante desarrollar todo tipo de trabajos que logren mejorar de alguna forma la salud integral de éste grupo etáreo. Para iniciar el trabajo se consultó bibliografía referente al Programa de Salud Escolar, trabajo de Investigación realizado por las Internas Rotativas de Enfermería de la promoción 1984-1985, se realizó entrevistas a ejecutivos del Ministerio de Salud Pública como fuente de información. Para verificar nuestras hipótesis utilizamos dos instrumentos el uno como guía de observación para determinar características de infraestructura sanitario y funcional de los establecimientos, el otro dirigido a los recursos humanos que participaron en el Programa de Salud Escolar, a padres de familia de los niños de Primero y Sexto grado de las siete escuelas, profesores de primero y sexto grado, médico y enfermera del Hospital Cantonal de Yaruquí...