Hyptis mociniana: phytochemical fingerprint and photochemoprotective effect against UV-B radiation-induced erythema and skin carcinogenesis.

Skin cancer is a public health problem due to its high incidence. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the main etiological agent of this disease. Photochemoprotection involves the use of substances to avoid damage caused by UV exposure. The aim of this work was to determine the phytochemical fingerprint and photochemoprotective effect against UVB radiation-induced skin damage such as erythema and carcinogenesis of H. mociniana methanolic extract (MEHm). The chemical composition of the MEHm was analysed by LC/ESI-MS/MS. Three quercetin derivatives, two pectinolides, and two caffeic acid derivatives were identified in the methanolic extract. MEHm has antioxidant effect and it is not cytotoxic in HaCaT cells. Phytochemicals from H. mociniana have a photochemopreventive effect because they absorb UV light and protect HaCaT cells from UVR-induced cell death. Also, in SKH-1 mice -acute exposure-, it decreased erythema formation, modulating the inflammatory response, reduced the skin damage according to histological analysis and diminished p53 expression. Finally, MEHm protects from photocarcinogenesis by reducing the incidence and multiplicity of skin carcinomas in SKH-1 mice exposed chronically to UVB radiation.

A pilot study into the use of Continuous Venous Hyperfiltration to manage patients in a critical state with dysregulated inflammation. / Estudio piloto sobre el uso de la Hiperfiltración Venosa Continua para el manejo de pacientes en estado crítico con inflamación desregulada.

INTRODUCTION: Haemofiltration paradigms used to manage critically ill patients with a dysregulated inflammatory response (DIR) assess kidney function to monitor its onset, adaptation, and completion. A Continuous Venous Hyperfiltration (CONVEHY) protocol is presented, in which a non-specific adsorption membrane (AN69-ST-Heparin Grafted) is used with citrate as an anticoagulant and substitution fluid. CONVEHY uses tools readily available to achieve kidney related and non-related objectives, and it is guided by the monitoring of pathophysiological responses. OBJECTIVES: To compare the response to an AN69-ST-HG membrane when heparin (He, n=5: Standard protocol) or citrate (Ci, n=6: CONVEHY protocol) was used to evaluate whether a larger study into the benefits of this protocol would be feasible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective pilot study, the benefits of the CONVEHY protocol to manage patients with a DIR in a surgical critical care unit (CCUs) were assessed by evaluating the SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) (He 11 ± 2.35; Ci 11 ± 3.63: p=0.54) and APACHE II (He 28.60 ± 9.40; Ci 24 ± 8.46: p=0.93) scores. RESULTS: Nights in hospital (He 35.2 ± 16.3 nights; Ci 9 ± 2.53: p=0.004), hospital admission after discharge from the CCUs (He 40.25 ± 21.82; Ci 13.2 ± 4.09: p=0.063), patients hospitalised >20 days (He 80%; Ci 0%: p=0.048), days requiring mechanical ventilation (He 16 ± 5.66; Ci 4 ± 1.72: p=0.004), and the predicted (55.39 ± 26.13%) versus real mortality in both groups (9.1%: p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The CONVEHY protocol improves the clinical responses of patients with DIR, highlighting the potential value of performing larger and confirmatory studies.

A new ABC half-transporter in Leishmania major is involved in resistance to antimony.

The characterization of ABCI4, a new intracellular ATP-binding cassette (ABC) half-transporter in Leishmania major, is described. We show that ABCI4 is involved in heavy metal export, thereby conferring resistance to Pentostam, to Sb(III), and to As(III) and Cd(II). Parasites overexpressing ABCI4 showed a lower mitochondrial toxic effect of antimony by decreasing reactive oxygen species production and maintained higher values of both the mitochondrial electrochemical potential and total ATP levels with respect to controls. The ABCI4 half-transporter forms homodimers as determined by a coimmunoprecipitation assay. A combination of subcellular localization studies under a confocal microscope and a surface biotinylation assay using parasites expressing green fluorescent protein- and FLAG-tagged ABCI4 suggests that the transporter presents a dual localization in both mitochondria and the plasma membrane. Parasites overexpressing ABCI4 present an increased replication in mouse peritoneal macrophages. We have determined that porphyrins are substrates for ABCI4. Consequently, the overexpression of ABCI4 confers resistance to some toxic porphyrins, such as zinc-protoporphyrin, due to the lower accumulation resulting from a significant efflux, as determined using the fluorescent zinc-mesoporphyrin, a validated heme analog. In addition, ABCI4 has a significant ability to efflux thiol after Sb(III) incubation, thus meaning that ABCI4 could be considered to be a potential thiol-X-pump that is able to recognize metal-conjugated thiols. In summary, we have shown that this new ABC transporter is involved in drug sensitivity to antimony and other compounds by efflux as conjugated thiol complexes.

[Effectiveness and complications of bariatric surgery in the treatment of morbid obesity]. / Eficacia y complicaciones de la cirugia bariátrica en el tratamiento de la obesidad mórbida.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Bariatric surgery represents an affective therapeutic alternative for patients with morbid obesity refractory to medical treatment. However, these surgical techniques increase the risk of producing a protein-energy hyponutrition or a selective deficit of some micronutrient. The aim of this work has been to analyze the anthropometrical, nutritional, digestive and cardiovascular risk factors changes and quality of life in patients with morbid obesity submitted to bariatric surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective descriptive study evaluating a group of patients with morbid obesity submitted to bariatric surgery (45 by means of biliopancreatic bypass according to Scopirano's procedure, and 25 by laparoscopic gastric bypass). Anthropometrics (height, weight, body mass index), cardiovascular risk factors (arterial blood pressure, lipid and glycemic profiles, serum uric acid) and nutritional parameters (serum albumin, complete blood count, and phosphorus and calcium) were assessed before the bariatric procedure and one and two years after surgical treatment. Quality of life was evaluated through the B.A.R.O.S. system. RESULTS: Seventy patients with morbid obesity have been analyzed (56 women and 14 men) with a mean age of 36.5 +/- 11 years. Mean pre-surgical weight was 129.7 +/- 25.6 kg and BMI 48.8 +/- 8.8 kg/m2. Two years after the surgical procedure BMI was 31.0 +/- 6.6 kg/m2, the ponderal reduction 47.7 kg and the percentage of weight loss 36.5%. Hundred percent of dislipidemic patients, 90% of diabetic patients, and 72% of hypertensive patients normalized their corresponding profiles after surgery. The most common nutritional complications were anemia and iron deficiency, which occurred in 54.4% and 36.6% of the cases, respectively. Other observed nutritional deficits were: mild hypoalbuminemia in 20.3% of the patients, hypothrombinemia in 14.9%, folic acid decrease in 17.8%, vitamin B12 deficiency in 12.5%, hypocalcaemia in 23.8%, and secondary hyperparathyroidism in 45.4% of the cases. All nutritional complications were more frequent in patients submitted to biliopancreatic bypass, with the exception for vitamin B12 deficiency that occurred more frequently in patients with gastric bypass. The most frequently observed digestive complication was diarrhea/steatorrhea in 39.1% of the cases. Sixty-four point two percent of the patients considered the surgery outcome as excellent or very good. CONCLUSION: In patients with morbid obesity, bariatric surgery is a technique by which a great improvement in anthropometrical parameters, cardiovascular risk factors, and quality of life of patients is achieved, but it associates an important percentage of nutritional complications that we should take into account in order to prevent them.