In-vitro Chemopreventive Potential of a Chromone from Bomarea setacea (ALSTROEMERIACEAE) against Colorectal Cancer.

Chemoprevention with natural products may provide important alternatives in the search for new drugs to treat cancer. Thus, the ethanol extract of Bomarea setacea and its secondary metabolite (chromone) were evaluated in-vitro in SW480 and SW620 human adenocarcinoma colon cells to identify a possible effect on cell growth, antiproliferative and/or proapoptotic activity. The ethanol extract did not show growth inhibition of these cell lines 48 h after treatment; besides, it required higher concentration and time to have an antiproliferative effect. On the other hand, although the chromone was not as active as the reference drug (5-FU), it displayed a greater selectivity, being 156-fold more selective against SW480 cells (SI => 100) and 255-fold against SW620 cells (SI => 86,9). Additionally, the chromone caused an important arrest in G2/M (44.18%) with an important accumulation in subG0/G1 phase in SW620 cells, inducing loss in mitochondrial membrane potential and damage in the cell membrane of both cell lines, with activation of caspase 3, suggesting an apoptotic process independent of ROS production and p53 activation.

Integrating multiple lines of evidence to assess freshwater ecosystem health in a tropical river basin.

Degradation of freshwater ecosystems by uncontrolled human activities is a growing concern in the tropics. In this regard, we aimed at testing an integrative framework based on the IFEQ index to assess freshwater ecosystem health of river basins impacted by intense livestock and agricultural activities, using the Muchacho River Basin (MRB) as a case study. The IFEQ combine multiple lines of evidence such as riverine hydromorphological analysis (LOE 1), physicochemical characterization using ions and pesticides (LOE 2), aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring (LOE 3), and phytotoxicological essays with L. sativa (LOE 4). Overall, results showed an important reduction in streamflow and an elevated increase in ion concentrations along the MRB caused by deforestation and erosion linked to agricultural and livestock activities. Impacts of the high ion concentrations were evidenced in macroinvertebrate communities as pollution-tolerant families, associated with high conductivity levels, represented 92 % of the total abundance. Pollution produced by organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) was critical in the whole MRB, showing levels that exceeded 270-fold maximum threshold for malathion and 30-fold for parathion, the latter banned in Ecuador. OPPs concentrations were related to low germination percentages of Lactuca sativa in sediment phytotoxicity tests. The IEFQ index ranged from 44.4 to 25.6, indicating that freshwater ecosystem conditions were "bad" at the headwaters of the MRB and "critical" along the lowest reaches. Our results show strong evidence that intense agricultural and livestock activities generated significant impacts on the aquatic ecosystem of the MRB. This integrative approach better explains the cumulative effects of human impacts, and should be replicated in other basins with similar conditions to help decision-makers and concerned inhabitants generate adequate policies and strategies to mitigate the degradation of freshwater ecosystems.

Características universitarias asociadas a la adjudicación de plazas para obstetras en el servicio rural peruano / University Characteristics Associated With The Award Of Places For Midwives In The Peruvian Rural Service

Objetivo: Determinar las características universitarias asociadas a la adjudicación de plazas para obstetras en el Servicio Rural y Urbano Marginal en Salud (SERUMS), 2019. Métodos: Análisis de base secundaria obtenida del Ministerio de Salud peruano, donde se seleccionaron 506 licenciados de obstetricia que rindieron el examen nacional de obstetricia (ENAOBS) y que hayan postulado al SERUMS en la convocatoria 2019-2. Se evaluaron las características de las universidades de donde procedían los obstetras, el puntaje obtenido en el examen nacional y universitario y si fue apto para el SERUMS. Para el análisis bivariado se utilizaron las pruebas de T de Student, ANOVA y Correlación de Pearson, mientras que para ajustar el modelo se realizó una regresión logística, considerando un nivel de confianza del 95%. Resultados:El egresado de obstetricia proviene en su mayoría de una universidad privada (66,01%), de la región Lima (41,7%) y postula a la modalidad remunerada (99,41%). Se halló que el 49,61% [IC95%:45,23-53,98] fueron aptos para el SERUMS. La calificación universitaria promedio fue de 13,87±1,35 y la del ENAOBS de 10,93±2,02, las cuales mostraron una correlación significativa (p<0,001) que tuvo una mayor pendiente en egresados de universidad pública (R=0,56). El pertenecer a una universidad pública (OR=2,62) y estudiar en Lima (OR=1,49) se asociaron significativamente (p<0,01) al estar apto para realizar el SERUMS en obstetricia. Conclusión: Ser egresado en obstetricia de una universidad pública y estudiar en Lima brinda mayor probabilidad de ser apto para adjudicar una plaza en el SERUMS.

Objective: To determine the university characteristics associated with the allocation of place for obstetricians in the Rural and Urban Marginal Service in Health (SERUMS), 2019. Methods: Secondary base analysis obtained from the Peruvian Ministry of Health, where 506 obstetrics licenses were selected who submitted the national obstetrics exam (ENAOBS) and who have applied to SERUMS in the 2019-2 call. The characteristics of the universities where the obstetricians come from, the score obtained in the national and university exam and if it is suitable for SERUMS were evaluated. For the bivariate analysis it will be used in the Student's T, ANOVA and Pearson's Correlation tests, while to adjust the model a logistic regression was performed, a 95% confidence level. Results: The obstetrics graduate visited mostly from a private university (66.01%), from the Lima region (41.7%) and applied for the paid modality (99.41%). It was found that 49.61% [95% CI: 45.23-53.98] were suitable for SERUMS. The average university qualification was 13.87 ± 1.35 and that of the ENAOBS was 10.93 ± 2.02, which had a significant correlation (p <0.001) that had a greater slope in graduates of public university (R = 0.56). Belonging to a public university (OR = 2.62) and studying in Lima (OR = 1.49) were significantly associated (p <0.01) to be able to perform SERUMS in obstetrics. Conclusion: Being a graduate in obstetrics from a public university and studying in Lima gives you a better chance of being able to award a place in the SERUMS.