Combination of Soy Isoflavones, 8-Prenylnaringenin and Melatonin Improves Hot Flashes and Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Postmenopausal Women: Flavie Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of a combination of soy isoflavones, 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), and melatonin in postmenopausal women suffering from moderate-to-severe hot flashes (HFs). METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, open-label study enrolled 44 postmenopausal women suffering from moderate-to-severe HFs (≥ 5 daily or ≥ 35 weekly) to receive 54.4 mg standardized soy isoflavones (including 24.5 mg genistein and 16.3 mg daidzein), 100 µg 8-PN, and 1 mg melatonin once daily for 12 weeks. The primary clinical outcomes included changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scores (Menopause-Specific QoL questionnaire [MENQoL] and Cervantes Scale) and HFs following 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. Other analyses included treatment adherence, acceptability, tolerability, and safety. RESULTS: All of the four domains of MENQoL questionnaire significantly improved at 4 weeks (P < 0.05) and 12 weeks (P < 0.001), affecting significantly the vasomotor, psychosocial, and physical spheres (41.2%, 26.3%, and 25.0%; 12 weeks improvements, respectively). Similarly, in the menopause (39.3%) and psychic (51.7%) domains (both P < 0.05 at 12 weeks), the global score of the Cervantes Scale significantly increased at 4 weeks (18.6%) and 12 weeks (35.4%). Accordingly, moderate-to-severe HFs significantly decreased at 4 weeks compared to baseline (41.7% reduction) and further reduced at 12 weeks (76.5%), including the total number of episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Food supplements containing soy isoflavones, 8-PN, and melatonin showed an early and progressive benefit for reducing clinically significant HFs and for improving HRQoL across all domains, favorably affecting postmenopausal women's overall well-being.

Curcumin reduces enteric isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2α and prostaglandin GF2α in specific pathogen-free Leghorn chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima.

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate and determine the concentration of prostaglandin GF2α (PGF2α) and isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2α in plasma and intestine of specific pathogen-free (SPF) Leghorn chickens challenged with Eimeria maxima, with or without dietary supplementation of curcumin using solid-phase microextraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Eighty 1-day-old male SPF chickens were randomly allocated to one of four groups with four replicates (n = 5 chickens/replicate). Groups consisted of: (1) Control (no challenge), (2) Curcumin (no challenge), (3) Eimeria maxima (challenge), and (4) Eimeria maxima (challenge) + curcumin. At day 28 of age, all chickens in the challenge groups were orally gavaged with 40,000 sporulated E. maxima oocysts. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the groups regardless of the treatment or challenge with E. maxima. Enteric levels of both isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2α and PGF2α at 7 days and 9 days post-challenge were significantly increased (P < 0.01) compared to the non-challenge control chickens. Interestingly, the enteric levels of both isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2α and PGF2α at 7 days post-challenge were significantly reduced in chickens fed curcumin, compared to control chickens challenge with E. maxima. At 9 days post-challenge, only levels of isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2α in the enteric samples were significantly reduced in chickens challenged with E. maxima supplemented with curcumin, compared with E. maxima challenge chickens. No differences of isoprostane 8-iso-PGF2α or PGF2α were observed in plasma at both days of evaluation. Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the challenge control or chickens challenge with E. maxima and supplemented with curcumin at both times of evaluation. The results of this pilot study suggests that the antioxidant anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin reduced the oxidative damage and subsequent intestinal mucosal over-production of lipid oxidation products. Further studies to confirm and extend these results in broiler chickens are required.

Control programme for cystic echinococcosis in Uruguay

Cystic echinococcosis is a highly endemic parasitic zoonosis that is present in the Southern Cone countries of America. For several decades, various prevention and control programmes have been implemented in different countries and regions, with varying results. In Uruguay, a new control programme was implemented in 2006 that employed new strategies for canine diagnosis and treatment, dog population control, diagnosis in humans, epidemiological surveillance, and health education, including community participation. The control programme in Uruguay addresses the control and surveillance of the disease from a holistic perspective based on Primary Health Care, which has strengthened the community’s participation in developing and coordinating activities in an interdisciplinary manner. Similarly, the control programme that is currently implemented is based on a risk-focused approach. The surveillance and control measures were focused on small villages and extremely poor urban areas. In this study, the strategies used and the results obtained from 2008-2013 are analysed and discussed.

Control programme for cystic echinococcosis in Uruguay.

Cystic echinococcosis is a highly endemic parasitic zoonosis that is present in the Southern Cone countries of America. For several decades, various prevention and control programmes have been implemented in different countries and regions, with varying results. In Uruguay, a new control programme was implemented in 2006 that employed new strategies for canine diagnosis and treatment, dog population control, diagnosis in humans, epidemiological surveillance, and health education, including community participation. The control programme in Uruguay addresses the control and surveillance of the disease from a holistic perspective based on Primary Health Care, which has strengthened the community's participation in developing and coordinating activities in an interdisciplinary manner. Similarly, the control programme that is currently implemented is based on a risk-focused approach. The surveillance and control measures were focused on small villages and extremely poor urban areas. In this study, the strategies used and the results obtained from 2008-2013 are analysed and discussed.

Vigilancia de efectos adversos provocados por medicamentos y técnicas de medicina natural en la población pediátrica / Surveillance of adverse effects caused by drugs and natural medicine techniques in the pediatric population

Los niños deben ser tratados con fármacos que hayan sido apropiadamente evaluados para su uso, aun así, la prescripción de medicamentos puede provocar efectos adversos. Con el objetivo de caracterizar las reacciones adversas por medicamentos y técnicas de medicina natural en menores de 15 años de edad, se analizaron las notificaciones recibidas y procesadas por la Unidad Coordinadora Nacional de Farmacovigilancia en el 2004. Hubo 932 reportes, en recién nacidos solo 11 notificaciones (1,2 por ciento). La mayor cantidad lo aportó la atención primaria de salud (79,8 por ciento), y los médicos con 74,2 por ciento Fue el grupo J (antibióticos sistémicos) el más reportado (65,2 por ciento); la piel el órgano más afectado; predominaron según la clasificación de Rawlins y Thompson las tipo B con 80,2 por ciento; probables el 82,8 por ciento; moderadas y leves el 97,2 por ciento; graves 2,6 por ciento; mortales 0,2 por ciento y raras el 24,7 por ciento. Seguir las reacciones adversas a medicamentos en los niños permite detectar riesgos evitables en esta población(AU)

Children should be treated with drugs that have been appropriately evaluated for their use, even though, the prescription of drugs may cause adverse effects. In order to characterize the adverse reactions by drugs and natural medicine techniques in children under 15, the notifications received and processed by the National Coordinating Pharmacovigilance Unit in 2004, were analyzed. There were 932 reports, and only 11 notifications in newborn infants (1.2 percent). The greatest number came from the primary health care level (79.8 %), and from physicians (74.2percent ). The group J (systemic antibiotics) was the most reported (65.2 percent); the skin was the most affected body system. According to Rawlins and Thompson's classification it was observed a predominance of type B reactions with 80.2percent ; probable, 82.8percent ; moderate and mild, 97.2 percent; severe, 2.6 percent; mortal, 0.2 percent; and rare, 24.7 percent. Following the adverse reactions in children allow to detect preventable risks in this population(AU)

Vigilancia de efectos adversos provocados por medicamentos y técnicas de medicina natural en la población pediátrica / Surveillance of adverse effects caused by drugs and natural medicine techniques in the pediatric population

Los niños deben ser tratados con fármacos que hayan sido apropiadamente evaluados para su uso, aun así, la prescripción de medicamentos puede provocar efectos adversos. Con el objetivo de caracterizar las reacciones adversas por medicamentos y técnicas de medicina natural en menores de 15 años de edad, se analizaron las notificaciones recibidas y procesadas por la Unidad Coordinadora Nacional de Farmacovigilancia en el 2004. Hubo 932 reportes, en recién nacidos solo 11 notificaciones (1,2 por ciento). La mayor cantidad lo aportó la atención primaria de salud (79,8 por ciento), y los médicos con 74,2 por ciento Fue el grupo J (antibióticos sistémicos) el más reportado (65,2 por ciento); la piel el órgano más afectado; predominaron según la clasificación de Rawlins y Thompson las tipo B con 80,2 por ciento; probables el 82,8 por ciento; moderadas y leves el 97,2 por ciento; graves 2,6 por ciento; mortales 0,2 por ciento y raras el 24,7 por ciento. Seguir las reacciones adversas a medicamentos en los niños permite detectar riesgos evitables en esta población.

Children should be treated with drugs that have been appropriately evaluated for their use, even though, the prescription of drugs may cause adverse effects. In order to characterize the adverse reactions by drugs and natural medicine techniques in children under 15, the notifications received and processed by the National Coordinating Pharmacovigilance Unit in 2004, were analyzed. There were 932 reports, and only 11 notifications in newborn infants (1.2 percent). The greatest number came from the primary health care level (79.8), and from physicians (74.2percent ). The group J (systemic antibiotics) was the most reported (65.2 percent); the skin was the most affected body system. According to Rawlins and Thompson's classification it was observed a predominance of type B reactions with 80.2percent ; probable, 82.8percent ; moderate and mild, 97.2 percent; severe, 2.6 percent; mortal, 0.2 percent; and rare, 24.7 percent. Following the adverse reactions in children allow to detect preventable risks in this population.

Dynamical modelling of an activated sludge system of a petrochemical plant operating at high temperatures.

The Mexican petrochemical industry, Morelos S.A. de C.V., is one of the biggest and more important petroleum industries in Mexico and Latin America. It has an activated sludge system to treat its wastewater flow, which is approximately 7,000 m3/d. The wastewater contains volatile organic carbon substances classified as toxics. The old surface aeration system was changed for fine bubble diffusers; however, one major drawback of the new aeration system is that the temperature in the bioreactor has increased due to the compression of the air, which at the compressor exit reaches 85 degrees C. This effect results in the temperature in the bioreactor attaining 32 degrees C during the fall, whereas in the spring and summer, the bioreactor temperature reaches higher values than 40 degrees C. The high temperatures reduce the microorganism activity and cause a higher volatilisation rate of volatile compounds, among other effects, which affect the performance of the biological treatment. This work was performed to obtain a better modelling of the wastewater treatment from the petrochemical industry. The model describes the effect of the temperature on the performance of the biological treatment. The model was obtained from tests that were carried out in laboratory reactors with 14 L capacity, which were operated at different temperatures (from 30 to 45 degrees C), with the same wastewater and conditions as the actual system.