Activation of Hypothalamic AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Ameliorates Metabolic Complications of Experimental Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether thermogenesis and the hypothalamus may be involved in the physiopathology of experimental arthritis (EA). METHODS: EA was induced in male Lewis rats by intradermal injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA). Food intake, body weight, plasma cytokines, thermographic analysis, gene and protein expression of thermogenic markers in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT), and hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were analyzed. Virogenetic activation of hypothalamic AMPK was performed. RESULTS: We first demonstrated that EA was associated with increased BAT thermogenesis and browning of subcutaneous WAT leading to elevated energy expenditure. Moreover, rats experiencing EA showed inhibition of hypothalamic AMPK, a canonical energy sensor modulating energy homeostasis at the central level. Notably, specific genetic activation of AMPK in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (a key site modulating energy metabolism) reversed the effect of EA on energy balance, brown fat, and browning, as well as promoting amelioration of synovial inflammation in experimental arthritis. CONCLUSION: Overall, these data indicate that EA promotes a central catabolic state that can be targeted and reversed by the activation of hypothalamic AMPK. This might provide new therapeutic alternatives to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated metabolic comorbidities, improving the overall prognosis in patients with RA.

Chemical activity relation of phosphorus and nitrogen presence in trace elements incorporation into underground water.

Anthropogenic activities can deteriorate the quality of groundwater destined for human use and consumption due to the fact that human activities cause changes in groundwater chemistry. The changes are induced by chemical species coming from industrial waste, which interacts with rocks and minerals. These trigger agents (phosphorus and nitrogen nutrients) which can incorporate trace elements (As, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn). The main objective of the present work was to study the phosphate ions' and nitrogenous species' effects on the incorporation of trace elements into groundwater used for human consumption and to determine the physicochemical processes that participate in the incorporation of trace elements. The physicochemical analysis and elemental analysis by ICP of the groundwater that supplies the study area showed that the phosphorus (P) activity contributes in the incorporation of trace elements into the water. Significant correlations between the activities of P and Fe (0.516), Mn (0.553), Pb (0.756), and As (- 0.747) as well as the correlation of NH4+ with As indicate that the presence of chemical species such as PO43- (2.50-32.20 mg L-1), NO3- (0.89-30.80 mg L-1), and NH4+ (0.2-12.70 mg L-1) are triggering agents that favor the dissolution and mobility of As (0.014-0.020 mg L-1), Fe (0.020-1.14 mg L-1), Mn (0.007-0.254 mg L-1), Ni (0.002-0.0141 mg L-1), Zn (0.009-0.459 mg L-1), and Pb (0.009-0.0170 mg L-1), species with adverse health effects because they are considered carcinogenic. Adequate control of the nitrogenous and phosphated material prevents the dissolution and mobility of trace elements into the water.

Leishmanicidal activity of carvacrol-rich essential oil from Lippia sidoides Cham.

Leishamaniasis is a disease that affects more than 2 million people worldwide, whose causative agent is Leishmania spp. The current therapy for leishmaniasis is far from satisfactory. All available drugs, including pentavalent antimony, require parenteral administration and are potentially toxic. Moreover, an increase in clinical resistance to these drugs has been reported. In this scenario, plant essential oils used traditionally in folk medicine are emerging as alternative sources for chemotherapeutic compounds. In this study, in vitro leishmanicidal effects of a thymol- and a carvacrol-rich essential oil from leaves of Lippia sidoides Cham. were investigated. The essential oils were extracted and their constituents were characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Both essential oils showed significant activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania chagasi. However, we found that carvacrol-rich essential oil was more effective, with IC50/72 h of 54.8 µg/mL compared to 74.1 µg/mL for thymol-rich oil. Carvacrol also showed lower IC50 than thymol. Our data suggest that L. sidoides essential oils are indeed promising sources of leishmanicidal compounds.

Leishmanicidal activity of carvacrol-rich essential oil from Lippia sidoides Cham

Leishamaniasis is a disease that affects more than 2 million people worldwide, whose causative agent is Leishmania spp. The current therapy for leishmaniasis is far from satisfactory. All available drugs, including pentavalent antimony, require parenteral administration and are potentially toxic. Moreover, an increase in clinical resistance to these drugs has been reported. In this scenario, plant essential oils used traditionally in folk medicine are emerging as alternative sources for chemotherapeutic compounds. In this study, in vitro leishmanicidal effects of a thymol- and a carvacrol-rich essential oil from leaves of Lippia sidoides Cham. were investigated. The essential oils were extracted and their constituents were characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Both essential oils showed significant activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania chagasi. However, we found that carvacrol-rich essential oil was more effective, with IC50/72 h of 54.8 μg/mL compared to 74.1 μg/mL for thymol-rich oil. Carvacrol also showed lower IC50 than thymol. Our data suggest that L. sidoides essential oils are indeed promising sources of leishmanicidal compounds.

Medicamentos caseros inocuos / Inocuos domestic medicaments

El presente trabajo demostró las diversas colonias de bacterias y hongos encontrados en los medicamentos caseros inocuos preparados en forma empírica y recetados por médicos inclusive oftalmólogos. Se cultivaron bacterias gram (-), un coco gram (+) y hongos, la recomendación final eliminar de la práctica médica cotidina la utilización de estos medicamentos caseros inocuos