Oleic acid reduces oxidative stress in rat brain induced by some anticancer drugs.

Oleic acid (OA) is a monounsaturated compound with many health-benefitting properties such as obesity prevention, increased insulin sensitivity, antihypertensive and immune-boosting properties, etc. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of oleic acid (OA) and some anticancer drugs against oxidative damage induced by nitropropionic acid (NPA) in rat brain. Six groups of Wistar rats were treated as follows: Group 1, (control); group 2, OA; group 3, NPA + OA; group 4, cyclophosphamide (CPP) + OA; group 5, daunorubicin (DRB) + OA; and group 6, dexrazoxane (DXZ) + OA. All compounds were administered intraperitoneally route, every 24 h for 5 days. Their brains were extracted to measure lipoperoxidation (TBARS), H2O2, Ca+2, Mg+2 ATPase activity, glutathione (GSH) and dopamine. Glucose, hemoglobin and triglycerides were measured in blood. In cortex GSH increased in all groups, except in group 2, the group 4 showed the highest increase of this biomarker. TBARS decrease, and dopamine increase in all regions of groups 4, 5 and 6. H2O2 increased only in cerebellum/medulla oblongata of group 5 and 6. ATPase expression decreased in striatum of group 4. Glucose increased in group 6, and hemoglobin increased in groups 4 and 5. These results suggest that the increase of dopamine and the antioxidant effect of oleic acid administration during treatment with oncologic agents could result in less brain injury.

Tuberculosis of the ribcage by dissemination of Koch bacilli.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious, transmissible and immune disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-complex (MTBC). Although osteoarticular tuberculosis (OATB) has been widely described, the ribcage variety remains a rare form. CASE REPORT: A thirteen-month-old male and a twenty-month-old female, both with pain and increased volume of anterolateral left rib cage were described. Physical examination revealed the presence of a soft consistent mass at the level of the 9th and 5th costal arches in the male and female patients respectively. Upon clinical evaluation, tuberculosis was suspected, which was confirmed by X-ray and histopathological studies. After confirmation, the management, based on anti-tuberculosis therapy was started as follows: nine months of anti-tuberculosis therapy for the male patient and fourteen months for the female. The outcomes were favorable for both patients. However, further interventions, consisting of abscess drainage in the male patient and excisional biopsy in the female patient were necessary. With these therapeutic interventions, to date, the patients are without any evidence of active TB.

Assessment of antioxidant effect of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and vitamin a in brains of rats with induced hyperoxia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, a salicylate derived from Acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) and vitamin A (vit A) on Na(+), K(+) ATPase enzyme and GSH levels in brain of rats exposed to hyperoxia (Hyp) as oxidant protocol. Rats were treated as follow: group I (control), group II (Hyp), group III (Hyp, ASA), group IV (vit A), group V (Hyp, vit A), group VI (Hyp, vit A, ASA). Vit A was given 5 days before and during Hyp, aspirin at the end of Hyp. Na(+),K(+) ATPase and total ATPase activity was significantly increased in group V. Levels of GSH showed a significant increase in group III, besides, levels of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid as salicylate in plasma were significantly increased in group II. These results elucidate differences in the biochemical response of animal towards intake of various types of antioxidant substances, with increased GSH and salicylate in hyperoxia.

La farmacogenética y su importancia en la clínica / Pharmacogenetics and its clinical Significance

En el uso clínico de medicamentos, se ha observado con frecuencia ineficacia terapéutica o toxicidad farmacológica, las cuales pueden presentarse en algunos individuos quienes reciben tratamiento farmacológico. Debido a la presencia de algunas enzimas metabolizantes de fármacos, los medicamentos pueden participar como sustratos inhibidores o inductores de dichas enzimas, la actividad de éstas varía entre los individuos. Esta variabilidad enzimática puede ser determinada por el análisis del ADN recombinante como son: el análisis de restricción del ADN genómico Fragmentos de Restricción de Longitud Polimórfica (RFLP), y la amplificación enzimática del ADN por la Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa (PCR). Esta tecnología se ha empleado en estudios clínicos que permiten conocer los mecanismos de las variaciones heredadas en las respuestas a los fármacos las cuales son reguladas por los genes de cada individuo de las diferentes razas, donde estas diferencias enzimáticas también pueden estar influenciadas por hábitos nutricionales o factores ambientales. Con este trabajo pretendemos presentar la importancia que tiene el conocimiento del metabolismo de los fármacos aplicado al manejo terapéutico de individuos que presentan ineficacia terapéutica o toxicidad farmacológica.

El surgimiento de la biología molecular / Appearance of molecular biology

La biología molecular constituye hoy en día la punta de lanza dentro de las perspectivas diagnósticas y terapéuticas para el próximo milenio. Ni el médico clínico ni el investigador biomédico pueden permanecer ajenos a dichos acontecimientos, es por ello que hemos considerado importante revisar los aspectos sobresalientes y prácticos de esta rama de la ciencia, a través de una serie de artículos que hagan más familiar su comprensión, fundamentalmente para aquellos quienes no tienen acceso a la información especializada