Carboxyhemoglobinemia as a laboratory finding in an outpatient

Resumen El monóxido de carbono (CO) es un gas producido principalmente por combustión incompleta de hidrocarburos. La intoxicación por exposición ambiental puede presentarse con síntomas inespecíficos y constituye la causa más importante de aumento de carboxihemoglobina (COHb). Su nivel en sangre depende de la duración de la exposición, la ventilación minuto y las concentraciones de CO y oxígeno en el ambiente. La elevada toxicidad radica en la hipoxia tisular que se genera. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino, 73 años, en seguimiento en el hospital por neumonía intersticial no específica como patología de base. En un control de laboratorio se encontró 11,9% de COHb, sin exposición a tabaco. No utilizaba calefacción a gas sino un panel cerámico eléctrico, recientemente pintado con esmalte sintético. La suspensión del uso del panel normalizó la COHb. El CO, producto de descomposición térmica del esmalte sintético, explica la causa de la intoxicación.

Abstract Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas produced mainly by incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. Poisoning from environmental exposure can present with nonspecific symptoms and is the most important cause of increased carboxyhemoglobin (COHb). Its blood level depends on the duration of exposure, minute ventilation, and the concentrations of CO and oxygen in the environment. The high toxicity lies in the tissue hypoxia that is generated. The case of a male patient, 73 years old, under follow-up in the hospital for non-specific interstitial pneumonia as the underlying pathology was presented. In a laboratory control, COHb 11,9% was found. There was no exposure to tobacco and there was no use of gas heating but of an electric ceramic panel, recently painted with synthetic enamel type paint. The suspension of the use of the panel normalised the COHb. The CO product of thermal decomposition of synthetic enamel explains the cause of poisoning.

Resumo O monóxido de carbono (CO) é um gás produzido principalmente pela combustão incompleta de hidrocarbonetos. A intoxicação por exposição ambiental pode se apresentar com sintomas inespecíficos e é a causa mais importante de aumento da carboxihemoglobina (COHb). Seu nível em sangue depende do tempo de exposição, da ventilação minuto e das concentrações de CO e oxigênio no ambiente. A alta toxicidade está na hipóxia tecidual gerada. Apresentamos o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, 73 anos, em acompanhamento hospitalar por pneumonia intersticial inespecífica como patologia de bas. Em um controle laboratorial, achou-se 11,9% de COHb, sem exposição ao tabaco. Não utilizava aquecimento a gás e sim um painel elétrico cerâmico, recentemente pintado com esmalte sintético. A suspensão do uso do painel normalizou o COHb. O CO produto da decomposição térmica do esmalte sintético explica a causa da intoxicação.

Propolis polyphenolic compounds affect the viability and structure of Helicobacter pylori in vitro

ABSTRACT To evaluate the anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of the major polyphenol compounds of propolis and their cellular damage, both as single molecule or in combination. Honey bees propolis were fractionated by using CPC and preparative HPLC. Four major polyphenols (chrysin, pinocembrin, galangin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester) were identified by thin layer chromatography-mass spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. These compounds inhibited both ATCC and clinical H. pylori strains, with caffeic acid phenethyl ester being the most active. The four compounds presented minimum inhibitory concentration in the range 256-1024 µg ml−1 and a fractional inhibitory concentration of 64-512 µg ml−1. In mixtures all compounds showed an indifference effect (FIC < 0.15) but chrysin + galangin which was synergistic (FIC = 2.0). Killing curves show a similar behavior as the antibiotic amoxycillin. On the other hand, analyses by transmission electron microscopy at sub inhibitory concentration show vesicle formation and cell lysis after exposition to both individual polyphenol compounds and in mixture. The major compounds of propolis show anti-H. pylori activity both as individual compounds and in mixture. When combined they present mainly indifference but exert a lytic activity upon H. pylori, suggesting a potential bactericidal activity of propolis.

Controlled water stress to improve functional and nutritional quality in quinoa seed / Estrés hídrico controlado para mejorar la calidad funcional y nutricional en semilla de quinoa

Chenopodium quinoa W. is a pseudocereal with bioactive compounds like polyphenols, carotenoids, dietary fibers and oleic acid, which have acquired importance because of their human health benefits. The present study aimed to determine the effect of controlled water restriction on the potential yield, chemical composition (protein, fat content and crude fiber) and antioxidant capacity in seeds of three genotypes of quinoa. The study was conducted in the south-central zone of Chile under field and controlled conditions in a greenhouse. Main plot treatment was available water level and subplots included three quinoa genotypes. Results indicated an increase of the antioxidant capacity, with an average of 88 percent in seeds of the three genotypes and 70 percent in seeds of plants exposed to 95 to 20 percent available water. Seed yield potential was reduced, but the extent of reduction varied depending on the genotype. It was possible to produce seeds of higher nutritional value when controlled water stress was applied from 40 to 20 percent available water, without a considerably reduction on seed yield.

Chenopodium quinoa W. es un pseudocereal con sustancias bioactivas como polifenoles, carotenoides, fibras dietarias y ácido oleico, las que han adquirido importancia, principalmente debido a los beneficios que produce en la salud humana. El propósito de este estudio fue en semilla determinar el efecto de la restricción hídrica controlada sobre el potencial de rendimiento, la composición química (proteína, contenido de grasas, fibra cruda) y la capacidad antioxidante, de tres genotipos de quinoa. Este estudio se realizó en la zona centro sur de Chile, en condiciones de campo y en invernadero, en condiciones controladas. El tratamiento principal fue la disponibilidad de agua y las subparcelas los genotipos de quinoa. Se observó en los resultados un incremento en la capacidad antioxidante de un 88 por ciento entre genotipos y un 70 por ciento en semillas expuestas desde 95 a 20 por ciento de la capacidad de campo. Por otra parte el potencial de rendimiento se redujo en diferentes magnitudes entre genotipos. Finalmente, fue posible producir semillas con mayor valor nutritivo cuando se aplicó una restricción hídrica desde un 40 a un 20 por ciento de la capacidad de campo sin reducir considerablemente el rendimiento.

Los polifenoles antioxidantes extraídos del epicarpio de Palta (Persea americana var. Hass) inhiben la ureasa de Helicobacter pylori / Antioxidant polyphenols extracted from Avocado epicarp (Persea americana var. Hass) inhibit Helicobacter pylori urease

Chronic infection by Helicobacter pylori produce chronic gastritis leading to other more severe pathologies as peptic ulcer and gastric adenocarcinoma. New anti-H. pylori agents has been found in natural products, particularly polyphenols. The inhibition of enzymes such us urease appears to be an interesting strategy by which polyphenols could limit the colonization by H. pylori. From the exocarp of Persea americana (avocado fruit), we obtain a procyanidin-rich extract with a 77 percent of gallic acid equivalents (GAE). Such procyanidins derived from epicatechin. with a mean degree of polymerization DPm = 6.10. The antioxidant capacity was assessed by different methods as TEAC-DPPH, TEAC-CUPRAC, TEAC-FRAP, TEAC-crocin. The extract shown inhibitory activity against H. pylori urease with an IC50 = 1.02 ug GAE/mL. In order to obtain clusters of procyanidins with different molecular weights, avocado peel extract was fractioned. A clear relation between the molecular size of procyanidins and their urease inhibitory activity was observed.

La infección crónica por Helicobacter pylori produce gastritis crónica o patologías más severas como la úlcera péptica y adenocarcinoma gástrico. Nuevos agentes anti-H. pylori se han encontrado en los productos naturales, donde destacan los polifenoles. La inhibición de enzimas como la ureasa, resulta ser una estrategia interesante mediante la cual los polifenoles pueden limitar la colonización por H. pylori. A partir del epicarpio del fruto de Persea americana (palto) se obtuvo un extracto polifenólico (77 por ciento de EAG), rico en procianidinas derivadas de epicatequina, con un grado de polimerización DPm = 6.10. La capacidad antioxidante fue evaluada mediante TEAC-DPPH, TEAC-CUPRAC, TEAC-FRAP, TEAC-crocina. El extracto mostró una actividad inhibitoria de la ureasa de H. pylori con un IC50 = 1.02 ug EAG/mL. El fraccionamiento de las procianidinas permitió agruparlas según su peso molecular, observándose una clara relación entre su tamaño y la capacidad de inhibir la ureasa.