Environmental and biological monitoring of organochlorine pesticides in the city of Salamanca, Mexico.

The former Tekchem Industrial Unit located in the city of Salamanca, Mexico, constitutes an environmental liability in which the presence of high levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) has been reported. In the present study, levels of OCPs were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in 52 soil samples and in 88 blood samples from school-age children in the city of Salamanca. A median concentration of 70.6 ng/g (6.93-3299) was obtained for total OCPs in soil, while for the total sum of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) the value was 49.6 ng/g (6.93-3276). In children, the median level of the total sum of OCPs was 390 ng/g lipid (7.34-14,895), and for the total sum of DDT was 175 ng/g lipid (< LOD-14,802). The OCPs that resulted in highest concentrations in soil were DDT and its metabolites, as well as aldrin and heptachlor epoxide, while in blood the highest levels corresponded to 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (4,4'-DDT) and its metabolites, followed by heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide. The spatial distribution of the concentrations of OCPs in soil shows that the facilities of Tekchem may be a significant potential source for the dispersion of these compounds toward the metropolitan area of Salamanca. The results obtained in the present study demonstrate the presence of OCPs in soil and in child population, providing important bases to study the problem from a broader perspective, while reiterating the importance of continuing efforts to generate resolute and precautionary measures with respect to the environmental liability of Tekchem.

Widespread elevated concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury in Guanajuato, Mexico, centuries after historical silver refining by mercury amalgamation.

Silver (Ag) production in Hispanic America between the 16th and 19th centuries is thought to be one of the largest sources of anthropogenic mercury (Hg) emissions in history. Recent reviews of the chemistry behind the patio process, which used Hg amalgamation to extract Ag from ore, reveal that a large amount of the Hg may not have been immediately released to the atmosphere; instead, it may have been captured in the form of calomel (Hg2Cl2, in which Hg exists as monovalent HgI) and remained in the local environment. Here we show that Hg used in the patio process centuries ago in the Guanajuato Mining District of Mexico continues to elevate present-day concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) throughout the region. In the ground-level air, GEM ranged from 8 to 454 ng m-3, exceeding the Northern Hemispheric average (~1.4 ng m-3) by up to two orders of magnitude. Much higher concentrations, up to 44,700 ng m-3, were found in the interstitial air of reprocessed mineral wastes, sediment, and soil. These highly elevated present-day GEM values are due, at least in part, to the disproportionation of legacy calomel, as supported by the presence of HgI in the reprocessed wastes and by the GEM release pattern from calomel disproportionation. Our results imply that the contribution of historical Ag refining to atmospheric Hg emissions must be re-evaluated to account for calomel and its subsequent disproportionation and releases of GEM to the present-day.

Association between lead source exposure and blood lead levels in some lead manufacturing countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lead is one of the 10 most toxic chemicals of greatest concern for its effects on public health. Predominantly, in undeveloped countries, high blood lead levels (BLLs) persist in the population. To develop intervention strategies that may reduce lead exposure in populations, it is a priority to know the sources of lead pollution. The objective of this critical review and meta-analysis is to assess whether there is an association between different sources of lead exposure and the mean difference in blood lead levels in people exposed. To identify the major lead source exposure, a statistical analysis was performed on selection studies. This investigation reveals the limited information available on the sources of lead in Mexico and other lead producer countries, such as Croatia, Ecuador, Brazil, South Korea, India, Nigeria, Turkey, and China. Meta-analysis could be performed only in battery, smelting mining, and glazed ceramic workers. Battery manufacturing workers have the highest mean difference level of lead in their blood worldwide. Mexico has the second highest mean difference BLL in battery workers in the world. An interesting difference between the mean difference in BLL in mining workers from uncontrolled industry (-39.38) and controlled industry (-5.68) was found. This difference highlighted the success of applying strict control of lead sources and community education to reduce BLL and its potential harmful effects on human health and the environment. Children living near mining sites have the highest mean difference BLL (-11.1). This analysis may aid in assessing the source of lead exposure associated with a range of BLLs in people. Furthermore, this review highlights several social and cultural patterns associated with lead exposure and lead levels in control populations. These results could help to develop international lead regulations and appropriate public health guidelines to protect people around the world.

Personalized paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation by tailoring ablation index to the left atrial wall thickness: the 'Ablate by-LAW' single-centre study-a pilot study.

AIMS: To determine if adapting the ablation index (AI) to the left atrial wall thickness (LAWT), which is a determinant of lesion transmurality, is feasible, effective, and safe during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients referred for PAF first ablation. Left atrial wall thickness three-dimensional maps were obtained from multidetector computed tomography and integrated into the CARTO navigation system. Left atrial wall thickness was categorized into 1 mm layers and AI was titrated to the LAWT. The ablation line was personalized to avoid thicker regions. Primary endpoints were acute efficacy and safety, and freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences. Follow-up (FU) was scheduled at 1, 3, 6, and every 6 months thereafter. Ninety patients [60 (67%) male, age 58 ± 13 years] were included. Mean LAWT was 1.25 ± 0.62 mm. Mean AI was 366 ± 26 on the right pulmonary veins with a first-pass isolation in 84 (93%) patients and 380 ± 42 on the left pulmonary veins with first-pass in 87 (97%). Procedure time was 59 min (49-66); radiofrequency (RF) time 14 min (12.5-16); and fluoroscopy time 0.7 min (0.5-1.4). No major complication occurred. Eighty-four out of 90 (93.3%) patients were free of recurrence after a mean FU of 16 ± 4 months. CONCLUSION: Personalized AF ablation, adapting the AI to LAWT allowed pulmonary vein isolation with low RF delivery, fluoroscopy, and procedure time while obtaining a high rate of first-pass isolation, in this patient population. Freedom from AF recurrences was as high as in more demanding ablation protocols. A multicentre trial is ongoing to evaluate reproducibility of these results.

Propolis and Its Gastroprotective Effects on NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer Disease: A Systematic Review.

Gastric ulcer disease induced by the consumption of NSAIDs is a major public health problem. The therapy used for its treatment causes adverse effects in the patient. Propolis is a natural product that has been used for the treatments of different diseases around the world. Nevertheless, there is little information about the activity of propolis in gastric ulcers caused by treatment with NSAIDs. Therefore, this review evaluates and compares the gastroprotective potential of propolis and its function against NSAID-induced gastric ulcers, for which a systematic search was carried out in the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases. The main criteria were articles that report the gastroprotective activity of propolis against the damage produced by NSAIDs in the gastric mucosa. Gastroprotection was related to the antioxidant, antisecretory, and cytoprotective effects, as well as the phenolic compounds present in the chemical composition of propolis. However, most of the studies used different doses of NSAIDs and propolis and evaluated different parameters. Propolis has proven to be a good alternative for the treatment of gastric ulcer disease. However, future studies should be carried out to identify the compounds responsible for these effects and to determine their potential use in people.

Phosphorylation of Phylogenetically Conserved Amino Acid Residues Confines HBx within Different Cell Compartments of Human Hepatocarcinoma Cells.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a circular, and partially double-stranded DNA virus. Upon infection, the viral genome is translocated into the cell nucleus, generating the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) intermediate, and forming a mini chromosome. HBV HBx is a small protein displaying multiple roles in HBV-infected cells, and in different subcellular locations. In the nucleus, the HBx protein is required to initiate and maintain viral transcription from the viral mini chromosome. In contrast, HBx also functions in the cytoplasm, where it is able to alter multiple cellular functions such as mitochondria metabolism, apoptosis and signal transduction pathways. It has been reported that in cultured cells, at low expression levels, the HBx protein is localized in the nucleus, whereas at high expression levels, it accumulates in the cytoplasm. This dynamic subcellular distribution of HBx might be essential to exert its multiple roles during viral infection. However, the mechanism that regulates different subcellular localizations of the HBx protein is unknown. We have previously taken a bioinformatics approach to investigate whether HBx might be regulated via post-translational modification, and we have proposed that the multiple nucleocytoplasmic functions of HBx might be regulated by an evolutionarily conserved mechanism via phosphorylation. In the current study, phylogenetically conserved amino acids of HBx with a high potential of phosphorylation were targeted for site-directed mutagenesis. Two conserved serine (Ser25 and Ser41), and one conserved threonine (Thr81) amino acids were replaced by either alanine or aspartic acid residues to simulate an unphosphorylated or phosphorylated state, respectively. Human hepatoma cells were transfected with increasing amounts of the HBx DNA constructs, and the cells were analyzed by fluorescence microscopy. Together, our results show that the nucleocytoplasmic distribution of the HBx protein could be regulated by phosphorylation since some of the modified proteins were mainly confined to distinct subcellular compartments. Remarkably, both HBx Ser41A, and HBx Thr81D proteins were predominantly localized within the nuclear compartment throughout the different expression levels of HBx mutants.

Avances actuales en la reducción de los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares / Current advances in the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors

RESUMEN El incremento de las enfermedades cardiovasculares, junto con los elevados costos que esto conlleva, ha identificado la necesidad de una renovación en el enfoque de la reducción de los riesgos cardiovasculares en la hipertensión arterial. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sobre los factores de riesgo cardiovasculares en inglés y español de los principales artículos publicados en PubMed, Scielo y MEDLINE durante los últimos cinco años. Aunque se han alcanzado logros, la reducción de las enfermedades cardiovasculares a través de la modificación de los estilos de vida sigue siendo un desafío. La mayoría de los pacientes continúan llevando un estilo de vida inadecuado, y menos de 1 % de la población observan los siete puntos esenciales que miden una vida saludable. La salud cardiovascular requerirá de un amplio enfoque para la eliminación de los factores de riesgo en base a la promoción de conductas saludables por vida, esto necesita de un enorme esfuerzo del gobierno local, las autoridades sanitarias, y sobre todo de los equipos locales de salud (AU).

SUMMARY The increment of the cardiovascular illnesses, together with the high costs that this bears, it has identified the necessity of a renovation in the focus of the reduction of the cardiovascular risks in the arterial hypertension. Was carried out a bibliographical revision about the cardiovascular factors risk of in English and Spanish of the main articles published in PubMed, Scielo and MEDLINE during the last five years. Develop and. Although achievements have been reached, the reduction of the cardiovascular illnesses through the modification of the lifestyles continues being a challenge. Most of the patients continue taking an inadequate lifestyle, and less than the population's 1 % observes the seven essential points that measure a healthy life. Although the cardiovascular health will require of a wide focus to elimination the risk factors based on the promotion of healthy behaviors for life, this needs of the local government's enormous effort, the sanitary authorities, and mainly of the local teams of health (AU).

Eventos cardiovasculares y su relación con cambios tensionales / Cardiovascular events and their relation to tension changes

RESUMEN La tensión arterial no es constante, y cambia frecuentemente en respuesta a estímulos fisiológicos de la vida diaria. Se realizó una revisión sistemática en inglés y español de los principales artículos publicados en PubMed, Scielo y MEDLINE durante el periodo comprendido desde el año 2010 hasta 2018, acerca de la variabilidad de la tensión arterial y sus complicaciones. Esto se ha documentado por el uso de la medición ambulatoria de la tensión arterial, una técnica que cada vez está más disponible para medir la tensión arterial y sus variaciones durante el día y la noche, con una frecuencia regular cada 15- 30 minutos a lo largo de un periodo de 24 horas. Esta técnica ha demostrado la diferencia de la tensión arterial en las diferentes mediciones durante el día y la noche, estos cambios en tan corto tiempo son predictores de las complicaciones cardiovasculares independiente de los valores absolutos (AU).

SUMMARY Blood pressure is not constant, and changes frequently in response to the physiological stimuli of everyday living. Was carried out a systematic revision in English and Spanish of the main articles published in PubMed, Scielo and MEDLINE during the period from the year 2010 up to 2018, about the variability of the Blood pressure and his complication. This has been documented by the use of ambulatory Blood pressure monitoring, a technique becoming more widely available that measures Blood pressure at regular intervals-typically each 15-30 min-throughout a 24-h period. This technique has demonstrated that differences among the daylong multiple readings-labelled as short-term variability-are predictive of cardiovascular outcomes independent of absolute Blood pressure levels (AU).

Relación entre la microbiota del intestino y la tensión arterial / Relationship between intestinal microbiota and blood pressure

Se ha demostrado la asociación de los microbios intestinales Firmicutes y Bacteroidetes con la hipertensión arterial, inclusive en personas sensibles a la sal. Asimismo, la disminución de la microbiota por los antibióticos puede aumentar o disminuir la tensión arterial acorde a la influencia del genotipo. En este artículo se comunican algunos argumentos sobre el tema y, además, se explica cómo la función biológica de los probióticos también puede ser el resultado de modificaciones epigenéticas, relacionado, en parte, con el micro-ARN, y cómo los productos de la fermentación de los nutrientes por la microbiota pueden influir en la tensión arterial regulando el gasto energético, el metabolismo intestinal de las catecolaminas, el transporte iónico gastrointestinal y renal y, con ello, la sensibilidad a la sal. Por último, se concluye que el efecto beneficioso o deletéreo de la microbiota intestinal sobre la tensión arterial es una consecuencia de distintas variables, incluidas las genéticas y epigenéticas, así como el estilo de vida y el uso de antibióticos.

The association of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes intestinal microbes with hypertension has been demonstrated, including people sensitive to salt. Also, the microbiota decrease due to antibiotics can increase or diminish the blood pressure according to the genotype influence. Some arguments on the topic are communicated in this work and, also, it is explained how the biological function of probiotics can also be the result of epigenetics modifications, related, to some extent, to the micro-RNA, and how the nutrients fermentation products due to microbiota can influence in blood pressure regulating the energy expense, intestinal metabolism of catecholamines and gastrointestinal and renal ionic transportation, and with it the sensibility to salt. Lastly, it is concluded that the beneficial or deleterious effect of intestinal microbiota on blood pressure is a consequence of different variables, including genetics and epigenetics variables, as well as lifestyle and use of antibiotics.

Diuretic activity and neuropharmacological effects of an ethanol extract from Senna septemtrionalis (Viv.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (Fabaceae).

Ethnopharmacological relevance Senna septemtrionalis (Viv.) H.S. Irwin & Barneby (Fabaceae) is a shrub empirically used as diuretic, and for the treatment of neurological disorders. These pharmacological effects have not been previously evaluated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the diuretic and CNS effects of a standardized ethanol extract of Senna septemtrionalis aerial parts (SSE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gas chromatography mass spectrometry was used to perform a chemical analysis with SSE. In all tests, SSE was evaluated from 10 to 100 mg/kg p.o. The diuretic activity of SSE was assessed in mice individually placed in metabolic cages. After 6 h, the urine volume and the electrolyte excretion (Na and K) were measured. The role of prostaglandins and nitric oxide was assessed administrating mice with indomethacin and N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), prior the administration of 100 mg/kg SSE. The sedative effects of SSE were analyzed with the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time test. The effects of SSE on motor coordination in mice were evaluated with the rotarod test. The antidepressant-like activity of SSE was analyzed with the forced swimming test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST). The role of 5-HT2 receptor, α1-and α2-adrenoceptors, or muscarinic receptors was assessed administrating mice with cyproheptadine, prazosin, yohimbine, and atropine, respectively, prior the administration of 100 mg/kg SSE in the FST. The anxiolytic-like activity of SSE (10-100 mg/kg p.o.) was assessed using the light-dark test (LDB), the elevated plus maze test (EPM), the cylinder exploratory test, and the open field test (OFT). The anticonvulsant effect of SSE (1-100 mg/kg) was evaluated in mice administered with different convulsant agents: strychnine, pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), isoniazid (INH) or yohimbine. RESULTS: The main compound found in SSE was D-pinitol (42.2%). SSE (100 mg/kg) increased the urinary volume (2.67-fold), as well as the excretion of Na (5.60-fold) and K (7.2-fold). The co-administration of SSE with L-NAME or indomethacin reverted the diuretic activity shown by SSE alone. SSE lacked sedative effects and did not affect motor coordination in mice. SSE (100 mg/kg) showed higher and similar antidepressant-like effect, compared to 20 mg/kg fluoxetine, in the FST and TST, respectively. The co-administration of SSE with yohimbine reverted the antidepressant-like activity shown by SSE alone. SSE (100 mg/kg) showed anxiolytic-like activity in the four models of anxiety, with similar activity with 1.5 mg/kg clonazepam. The seizure-protective effect of SSE was ED50 = 73.9 ±â€¯8.4 mg/kg (INH) and 40.4 ±â€¯5.2 mg/kg (yohimbine). CONCLUSION: The diuretic effects of SSE involve the possible contribution of prostaglandins and nitric oxide. SSE showed moderate anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects, whereas the participation of α2-adrenoceptors is probably associated in the antidepressant-like effects of SSE.

Presencia y diseminación del Dengue, Chikungunya y otras arbovirosis en las Américas / Presence and dissemination of Dengue, Chikungunya and other arboviruses in North and South America

RESUMEN En esta revisión se recogen las más recientes investigaciones sobre los virus de chikungunya y del zika en el continente americano y la posible emergencia de nuevos arbovirus. Se realizó una investigación de los principales artículos publicados en PubMed, Scielo y MEDLINE durante 2010-16, acerca de la presencia de arbovirus en el continente americano, su evolución y complicaciones. En el brote de chikungunya ocurrido en las Américas se han descrito la fiebre, poli artralgia, mialgia y salpullido como los síntomas más comunes en la fase aguda, mientras la artralgia crónico ha persistido en 37-90 % de cohortes pequeñas. El origen asiático de las cepas americanas de virus del chikungunya y del zika evidencian una ruta de la diseminación en común y ambos trasmitidos por el aedes aegypti. Con respecto al zika de fiebre y la asociación de malformaciones congénitas y la transmisión sexual es uno de los descubrimientos más importantes en el Nuevo Mundo. Los virus de chikungunya y zika, se transmite por el aedes aegypti, y se han convertido en un serio problema de salud principalmente por la falta de vacuna y los métodos eficaces para el control del vector.

ABSTRACT This review gathers together the most recent researches carried out on Chikungunya and Zika viruses in the American continent, and states the possible emergency of new arboviruses. The authors performed a review of the main articles published in PubMed, Scielo y MEDLINE in the period 2010-2016 on the presence of arboviruses in the American continent, their evolution and complications. The most commonly described symptoms of the chikungunya outbreak in the American continent are fever, polyarthralgia, myalgia and rash in the acute stage, while chronic arthralgia has persisted in 37-90 % of the little cohorts. The Asian origin of American Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses strains evidence a common dissemination course and common transmission by the Aedes Aegypti. Regarding Zika fever, the association of congenital malformations and sexual transmission are the most important discoveries in the New World. Chikungunya and Zika viruses are transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti and they have become a serious health problem, mainly due to the lack of vaccine and efficacious methods of the vector control.

Proteases of Sporothrix schenckii: Cytopathological effects on a host-cell model.

BACKGROUND: Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by the Sporothrix schenckii complex. The adhesion of the fungus to the host tissue has been considered the key step in the colonization and invasion, but little is known about the early events in the host-parasite interaction. AIMS: To evaluate the proteolytic activity of S. schenckii on epithelial cells. METHODS: The proteolytic system (at pH 5 and 7) was evaluated using azocoll and zymograms. The host-parasite interaction and epithelial cell response were also analyzed by examining the microfilament cytoskeleton using phalloidin-FITC and transmission electron microscopy. Finally, the metabolic activity was determined using an XTT assay. RESULTS: The zymograms showed that S. schenckii yeast cells possess high intracellular and extracellular proteolytic activities (Mr≥200, 116, 97, and 70kDa) that are pH dependent and are inhibited by PMSF and E64, which act on serine and cysteine-type proteases. During the epithelial cell-protease interaction, the cells showed alterations in the microfilament distribution, as well as in the plasma membrane structure. Moreover, the metabolic activity of the epithelial cells decreased 60% without a protease inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate the complexity of the cellular responses during the infection process. This process is somehow counteracted by the action of proteases inhibitors. Furthermore, the results provide critical information for understanding the nature of host-fungus interactions and for searching a new effective antifungal therapy, which includes protease inhibitors.

Three- and 6-month optical coherence tomographic surveillance following percutaneous coronary intervention with the Angiolite® drug-eluting stent: The ANCHOR study.

BACKGROUND: Pre-clinical results of a novel open-cell, thin strut, durable polymer, laser cut cobalt chromium sirolimus-eluting stent (Angiolite) were promising. Using quantitative optical coherence tomographic (OCT) analyses, we explored the healing characteristics of the Angiolite DES system at 3- and 6-months post implantation. METHODS: A total of 103 patients with de novo coronary lesions underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with the Angiolite DES and were randomized 1:3 into two cohorts for angiographic and OCT follow-up, with 28 and 70 patients returning for 3- or 6-month post-PCI surveillance, respectively. The primary endpoints were the 6-month rates of OCT-derived neointimal proliferation, strut coverage and incomplete strut apposition (ISA), whilst the secondary endpoints were 3-month OCT-derived measures of strut coverage and ISA, as well as 6-month quantitative coronary angiographic-derived measures [late lumen loss (LLL), binary restenosis]. RESULTS: The Angiolite stent was successfully implanted in all patients, without periprocedural complications. At 3- and 6-months follow-up, OCT strut coverage was evident in 86.3% and 83.3% of struts, mean neointimal thickness was 73.7 ± 46.5 µm and 73.9 ± 54.3 µm, mean neo-intimal area obstruction of 5.8% ±10.3% and 4.4% ± 11.3%, and ISA rates were 1.3% ± 7.3% and 1.1% ± 6.2%, respectively. In-stent LLL at 6 months was 0.07 ± 0.37 mm, with a binary in-stent angiographic restenosis rate of 0% without any stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction or cardiovascular death, with 1 patient undergoing ischemia-driven target-lesion revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: At 6 months, the Angiolite DES was safe with high rates of strut coverage, modest degrees of neointimal hyperplasia and very low rates of strut malapposition. These data coupled with the absence of in-stent binary restenosis and a very low 6-month in-stent LLL point towards an efficacious DES. Future studies are required to evaluate its efficacy in broader lesion subsets with longer follow-up.

Importancia de las co-morbilidades en la insuficiencia cardiaca / Importance of the co morbidities in the heart failure

La insuficiencia cardíaca afecta aproximadamente a 5.1 millones de adultos en los Estados Unidos de América, con expectativas de alcanzar a casi 8 millones de adultos para 2030. Los pacientes portadores de insuficiencia cardiaca están en mayor riesgo de sufrir una mayor morbilidad y mortalidad que la población en general; además, existen co-morbilidades que pueden complicar el cuidado de estos pacientes. La diabetes mellitus, el dolor crónico y la depresión son diagnósticos que muy a menudo coexisten con la insuficiencia cardiaca. Los medicamentos con que normalmente se tratan estas co-morbilidades pueden inducir o empeorar los síntomas de la insuficiencia cardiaca, así que determinar la terapia apropiada es de vital importancia. Los médicos deben entender la relación que existe entre estas medicaciones y la insuficiencia cardiaca para mejorar la asistencia, aumentar la seguridad del paciente y reducir la morbilidad y mortalidad. Este trabajo analiza la asociación entre ciertos medicamentos usados para el tratamiento de estas co-morbilidades y su relación con la insuficiencia cardiaca. El propósito de este artículo es proporcionar una orientación farmacológica donde las opciones de tratamiento tengan especial consideración con un aumento de la supervisión médica, para evitar la descompensación o aparición de la insuficiencia cardiaca en los pacientes portadores de diabetes mellitus, dolor crónico y depresión (AU).

Heart failure affects approximately 5.1 million adults in the USA, with expectations of a rise to nearly 8 million adults by 2030. Patients with heart failure are at increased risk for morbidity/mortality, and co-morbidities can further complicate care for these patients. Diabetes mellitus, chronic pain, and depression are diagnoses that often coexist with heart failure. Medications commonly used to treat these co-morbidities may induce or worsen heart failure symptoms, so determining appropriate drug therapy is important. Healthcare providers must understand the relationship between these medications and heart failure in order to improve prescribing practices to increase patient safety and reduce morbidity and mortality. This manuscript discusses the association between certain medications used to treat the aforementioned diagnoses and their relationship to heart failure. The purpose of this article is to provide guidance on which pharmacologic options require special consideration, increased monitoring, or complete avoidance in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic pain, and/or depression (AU).

Physiological and biochemical response of plants to engineered NMs: Implications on future design.

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) form the basis of a great number of commodities that are used in several areas including energy, coatings, electronics, medicine, chemicals and catalysts, among others. In addition, these materials are being explored for agricultural purposes. For this reason, the amount of ENMs present as nanowaste has significantly increased in the last few years, and it is expected that ENMs levels in the environment will increase even more in the future. Because plants form the basis of the food chain, they may also function as a point-of-entry of ENMs for other living systems. Understanding the interactions of ENMs with the plant system and their role in their potential accumulation in the food chain will provide knowledge that may serve as a decision-making framework for the future design of ENMs. The purpose of this paper was to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the transport and uptake of selected ENMs, including Carbon Based Nanomaterials (CBNMs) in plants, and the implication on plant exposure in terms of the effects at the macro, micro, and molecular level. We also discuss the interaction of ENMs with soil microorganisms. With this information, we suggest some directions on future design and areas where research needs to be strengthened. We also discuss the need for finding models that can predict the behavior of ENMs based on their chemical and thermodynamic nature, in that few efforts have been made within this context.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Xiphister atropurpureus (Perciformes: Stichaeidae).

Analysis of the marine black prickleback Xiphister atropurpureus Kittlitz using 76 bp paired-end Illumina sequences resulted in the assembly of its complete mitogenome. The mitogenome is 16,518 bp in length and contains an origin of light strand replication (OL), control region, 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA, and 13 protein-coding genes. Content and organization of the X. atropurpureus mitogenome is consistent with other teleost. Phylogenetic analysis of X. atropurpureus resolves it in a clade with another member of the Stichaeidae, Chirolophis japonicus Herzenstein.

Use of medicinal plants by health professionals in Mexico.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The use of medicinal plants in Mexico has been documented since pre-Hispanic times. Nevertheless, the level of use of medicinal plants by health professionals in Mexico remains to be explored. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the use, acceptance and prescription of medicinal plants by health professionals in 9 of the states of Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Direct and indirect interviews, regarding the use and acceptance of medicinal plants, with health professionals (n=1614), including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and odontologists from nine states in Mexico were performed from January 2015 to July 2016. The interviews were analyzed with the factor the informant consensus (FIC). RESULTS: The information obtained indicated that 46% of those interviewed feel patients should not use medicinal plants as an alternative therapy. Moreover, 54% of health professionals, and 49% of the physicians have used medicinal plants as an alternative therapy for several diseases. Twenty eight percent of health professionals, and 26% of the physicians, have recommended or prescribed medicinal plants to their patients, whereas 73% of health professionals were in agreement with receiving academic information regarding the use and prescription of medicinal plants. A total of 77 plant species used for medicinal purposes, belonging to 40 botanical families were reported by the interviewed. The results of the FIC showed that the categories of diseases of the digestive system (FIC=0.901) and diseases of the respiratory system (FIC=0.898) had the greatest agreement. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that medicinal plants are used for primary health care in Mexico by health professionals.

Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internet Application to Reduce HIV Transmission Behavior Among HIV Infected Men Who have Sex with Men.

We conducted a prospective, randomized controlled trial of an internet-based safer-sex intervention to reduce HIV transmission risk behaviors. HIV-infected men who have sex with men (n = 179) were randomized to receive a monthly internet survey alone or a monthly survey plus tailored risk reduction messages over 12 months. The primary outcome was the cumulative sexually transmitted infection (STI) incidence over 12 months. Secondary outcomes included self-reported unprotected sex with an at risk partner and disclosure of HIV status to partners. In a modified intent to treat analysis, there was no difference in 12-month STI incidence between the intervention and control arms (30 vs. 25 %, respectively; p = 0.5). Unprotected sex decreased and disclosure increased over time in both study arms. These improvements suggest that addition of the risk-reduction messages provided little benefit beyond the self-monitoring of risky behavior via regular self-report risk behavior assessments (as was done in both study arms).

Replication of a chronic hepatitis B virus genotype F1b construct.

Genotype F is one of the less-studied genotypes of human hepatitis B virus, although it is widely distributed in regions of Central and South American. Our previous studies have shown that HBV genotype F is prevalent in Chile, and phylogenetic analysis of its full-length sequence amplified from the sera of chronically infected patients identified it as HBV subgenotype F1b. We have previously reported the full-length sequence of a HBV molecular clone obtained from a patient chronically infected with genotype F1b. In this report, we established a system to study HBV replication based on hepatoma cell lines transfected with full-length monomers of the HBV genome. Culture supernatants were analyzed after transfection and found to contain both HBsAg and HBeAg viral antigens. Consistently, fractionated cell extracts revealed the presence of viral replication, with both cytoplasmic and nuclear DNA intermediates. Analysis of HBV-transfected cells by indirect immunofluorescence or immunoelectron microscopy revealed the expression of viral antigens and cytoplasmic viral particles, respectively. To test the functionality of the ongoing viral replication further at the level of chromatinized cccDNA, transfected cells were treated with a histone deacetylase inhibitor, and this resulted in increased viral replication. This correlated with changes posttranslational modifications of histones at viral promoters. Thus, the development of this viral replication system for HBV genotype F will facilitate studies on the regulation of viral replication and the identification of new antiviral drugs.