Heavy metals in soils of Mayabeque, Cuba: multifaceted and hardly discernable contributions from pedogenic and anthropogenic sources.

Cuba is a country with considerable potential for economic growth, and special efforts are made to increase the agricultural output. As food production depends on the quality of soils, heavy metal concentrations were measured in 39 soils in the province of Mayabeque, Cuba, and interpreted in light of anthropogenic activities and pedogenic conditions (soil type and properties). With median concentrations of 1.8 Cd, 60.3 Cr, 48.1 Cu, 36.2 Ni, 16.7 Pb, 55.0 Zn, and 0.1 mg/kg Hg, soils of Mayabeque were mostly below Cuban quality reference values (QRV) representing benchmarks of quality standards but no official threshold values. Only Cd concentrations were in many cases above the QRV of 0.6 mg/kg and some Cu concentrations above the one of 83 mg/kg. While Cd, Cr, and Ni concentrations were rather pedogenically driven, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Hg contents were rather anthropogenically influenced. When evaluated statistically, Cd and Cr showed most times a significant influence of both sources. In contrast, Ni and Zn could not be significantly related with the origins investigated in this study. Hence, the allocation of heavy metal concentrations to pedogenic or anthropogenic contamination or pollution sources is tentative and needs further investigations. Nevertheless, the present data adds information on soil heavy metal concentrations in the Caribbean region, serves as reference before further industrial development, and sets the ground for adaptation of the QRV for Cd and possibly future national environmental standards.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in soils of Mayabeque, Cuba.

Cuba is a country in transition with a considerable potential for economic growth. Soils are recipients and integrators of chemical pollution, a frequent negative side effect of increasing industrial activities. Therefore, we established a soil monitoring network to monitor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soils of Mayabeque, a Cuban province southeast of Havana. Concentrations of the sum of the 16 US EPA PAHs and of the seven IRMM PCBs in soils from 39 locations ranged from 20 to 106 µg kg-1 and from 1.1 to 7.6 µg kg-1, respectively. While such concentrations can be considered as low overall, they were in several cases correlated with the distance of sampling sites to presumed major emission sources, with some of the concomitantly investigated source diagnostic PAH ratios, and with black carbon content. The presented data adds to the limited information on soil pollution in the Caribbean region and serves as a reference time point before the onset of a possible further industrial development in Cuba. It also forms the basis to set up and adapt national environmental standards.

Effect of natural porcine surfactant in Staphylococcus aureus induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species generation in monocytes and neutrophils from human blood.

Surfacen® is a clinical surfactant preparation of porcine origin. In the present study, we have evaluated the effect of Surfacen® in the modulation of oxidative burst in monocytes and neutrophils in human blood and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured in monocytes and neutrophils by flow cytometry using 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) as substrate, while, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels were estimated in PBMC supernatant by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Our results show that Staphylococcus aureus-induced ROS level was slightly affected by Surfacen® added to whole blood monocytes and neutrophils. The time course experiments of pre-incubation with Surfacen® showed no significant increase of ROS level at 2h; however, the ROS level decreased when pre incubated for 4h and 6h with Surfacen®. Pre-incubation of PBMC cells with Surfacen® at 0.125 and 0.5mg/mL showed a dose-dependent suppression of TNF-α levels measured after 4h of S. aureus stimulation, an effect less impressive when cells were stimulated for 24h. A similar behavior was observed in IL-6 release. In summary, the present study provides experimental evidence supporting an anti-inflammatory role of Surfacen® in human monocytes and neutrophils in vitro.

In vitro interaction between SURFACEN® and surfactant protein A against Leishmania amazonensis.

Leishmaniasis is caused by a parasite of the Leishmania genus, affecting more than 12 million people in 98 countries. The control of leishmaniasis remains a serious problem. There are currently no vaccines for leishmaniasis. The drugs available are toxic, expensive and frequently ineffective. The in vitro activity of SURFACEN® and SP-A against Leishmania amazonensis was evaluated. The combination of both products resulted in a synergic pharmacology effect, demonstrated by a fractional inhibitory concentration index <0.5. A more effective combination was a SURFACEN/SP-A ratio of 4:1, using a method of fixed ratio. The therapeutic effect of SURFACEN and SP-A as antileishmanial compounds was demonstrated, with a potentiation of activity when they were incubated in conjunction. Our results propose an exploration of these products in order to design new formulations against the Leishmania parasite.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) residues in milk from an agroindustrial zone of Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico.

The coasts of the Gulf of Mexico are zones exposed to the exploration and exploitation of petroleum sources, and the products generated in agricultural zones may become contaminated by persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The objective of the present study was to evaluate the presence of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) in milk from dairy production units near sources of environmental pollutants. It was confirmed that the seven congeners of nondioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) are present in milk where compounds PCB101, PCB118, PCB153 and PCB180 appear in 100% of the samples analyzed, the rank of concentration for the sum of the seven congeners fluctuating between 2.6 and 26 ng g(-1) with a median of 6 ng g(-1). None of the samples surpassed the provisional value established by the EU of 40 ng g(-1) of milk fat for the sum of the seven congeners, indicator that was not affected by the season of the year (p<0.05), whose median of 8.6 ng g(-1) and 6.3 ng g(-1) for rain and drought respectively. The concentrations of NDL-PCBs found in milk do not represent a problem for human health; however, they alert the existence of spontaneously generated, uncontrolled sources that may represent a potential danger for human and animal health.

Prevalencia por diagnóstico inmunológico de Candida spp, Trichomonas vaginalis y Gardnerella vaginalis en mujeres embarazadas a nivel primario del sistema de salud / Prevalence by immunologic diagnosis of Candida spp, Trichomonas vaginalis and Vardnerella vaginalis in pragnants at primary level of health system

OBJETIVO: determinar la prevalencia de Candida spp, Trichomonas vaginalis y Gardnerella vaginalis en la población de mujeres embarazadas de cuatro áreas primarias de salud de la provincia La Habana a través de un método inmunológico con partículas de látex, FemPure. MÉTODOS: se tomaron muestras de exudado vaginal a todas las mujeres embarazadas con o sin síntomas de vaginitis en los consultorios especializados de Obstetricia de cuatro áreas primarias de salud de la provincia La Habana con o sin síntomas de vaginitis a través de un método inmunológicocon partículas de látex. Se siguió la metodología planteada por el instructivo técnico del fabricante y a los 3 min de iniciada la reacción se leyeron los resultados. RESULTADOS: los intervalos de confianza (95 %) observados fueron para Candida spp de 21,9 a 29,2 %, para Trichomonas vaginalis de 14,5 a 20,9 % y para Gardnerella vaginalis de 22,10 a 29,40 %, 56,72 % de las muestras fueron negativas y 1,81 % dieron reacción al control negativo clasificándose como inespecíficas. Además 18,26 % de las muestras dieron positivas a más de un germen incluyendo a 26 que dieron positivas a los tres microorganismos. Hubo diferencias (p<0,0001) entre las prevalencias de los tres gérmenes en las diferentes localidades siendo lo más llamativo que la candidiasis fue más del doble en Güines que en Santa Cruz y Jaruco. CONCLUSIONES: con este diagnosticador que cumple con los requisitos de sencillez, objetividad y rapidez se pudo, a nivel primario de salud, estudiar a gran número de embarazadas e indicar el mismo día de la consulta el tratamiento etiológico para cada caso, lo cual benefició a estas mujeres y contribuyó a evitar las complicaciones de la vaginitis infecciosa

OBJECTIVE: to determine the prevalence of Candida ssp, Trichomonas vaginalis and Gardnerella vaginalis in pregnant women from four primary health areas of La Habana province using a immunologic method with particles of FemPure latex. METHODS: we took samples of vaginal exudates in all pregnant women with or without vaginitis seen in specialized Obstetrics consulting rooms from four health primary areas of La Habana province with or without vaginitis using the above mentioned method. Methodology proposes by manufacturer technical instructor and at three minutes of started the reaction results were read. RESULTS: confidence intervals (95 percent) observed were: for Candida ssp of 21.9 to 29.2 percent, for Trichomonas vaginalis of 14.5 to 20,9 percent and for Gardnerella vaginalis of 22.10 to 29.40 percent. The 56.72 percent of samples were negative and the 1.81 percent were reactive to negative control classifying as non-specific. Also, the 18.26 percent of samples were positive to more than germ including 26 positives to the three microorganisms. There were differences (p 0.0001) among the prevalences of the three germs in distinct localities where candidiasis was twice more in G³ines municipality than in Santa Cruz and Jaruco municipalities. CONCLUSIONS: using this diagnostic method fulfilling the simplicity, objectivity and speed criteria, at primary health level, it was possible to study more pregnants and at same day to suggest the etiologic treatment to each case for the good of these women contributing to avoid the infectious vaginitis complications

Antioxidant activity of Rhizophora mangle bark.

The antioxidant activity of Rhizophora mangle bark aqueous extract and its majoritary component and high molecular weight polyphenols' fraction were studied using deoxyribose assay. The total extract and its fraction showed scavenging activity of hydroxyl radicals and hability to chelate iron ions.