Evaluation of the Biological Properties of an Optimized Extract of Polygonum cuspidatum Using Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction.

Phytochemicals are natural compounds found in plants that have potential health benefits such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and immune reinforcement. Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. is a source rich in resveratrol, traditionally consumed as an infusion. In this study, P. cuspidatum root extraction conditions were optimized to increase antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS+), extraction yield, resveratrol concentration, and total polyphenolic compounds (TPC) via ultrasonic-assisted extraction using a Box-Behnken design (BBD). The biological activities of the optimized extract and the infusion were compared. The optimized extract was obtained using a solvent/root powder ratio of 4, 60% ethanol concentration, and 60% ultrasonic power. The optimized extract showed higher biological activities than the infusion. The optimized extract contained 16.6 mg mL-1 resveratrol, high antioxidant activities (135.1 µg TE mL-1 for DPPH, and 230.4 µg TE mL-1 for ABTS+), TPC (33.2 mg GAE mL-1), and extraction yield of 12.4%. The EC50 value (effective concentration 50) of the optimized extract was 0.194 µg mL-1, which revealed high cytotoxic activity against the Caco-2 cell line. The optimized extract could be used to develop functional beverages with high antioxidant capacity, antioxidants for edible oils, functional foods, and cosmetics.

226Ra dynamic lixiviation from phosphogypsum samples by an automatic flow-through system with integrated renewable solid-phase extraction.

The release of 226Ra from phosphogypsum (PG) was evaluated by developing a novel tool for fully automated 226Ra lixiviation from PG integrating extraction/pre-concentration using a renewable sorbent format. Eight leached fractions (30mL each one) and a residual fraction were analyzed allowing the evaluation of dynamic lixiviation of 226Ra. An automatic system allows this approach coupling a homemade cell with a 226Ra extraction/pre-concentration method, which is carried out combining two procedures: Ra adsorption on MnO2 and its posterior co-precipitation with BaSO4. Detection was carried out with a low-background proportional counter, obtaining a minimum detectable activity of 7Bqkg-1. Method was validated by analysis of a PG reference material (MatControl CSN-CIEMAT 2008), comparing the content found in fractions (sum of leached fractions + residual fraction) to the reference value. PG samples from Huelva (Spain) were studied. 226Ra average activity concentration of the sum of leached fractions with artificial rainwater at pH 5.4±0.2 was 105±3Bqkg-1d.w. representing a 226Ra lixiviation of 37%; while at pH 2.0±0.2, it was 168±3Bqkg-1 d.w., which represents a 50%. Also, static lixiviation, maintaining the same experimental conditions, was carried out indicating that, for both considered pH, the 226Ra release from PG is up to 50% higher in a dynamic leaching that in a static one, may have both environmental and reutilization implications.

New dye-sensitized solar cells obtained from extracted bracts of Bougainvillea glabra and spectabilis betalain pigments by different purification processes.

The performance of a new dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) based in a natural dye extracted from the Bougainvillea spectabilis' bracts, is reported. The performance of this solar cell was compared with cells prepared using extract of the Bougainvillea glabra and mixture of both extracts; in both cases the pigments were betalains, obtained from Reddish-purple extract. These dyes were purified to different extents and used for the construction of solar cells that were electrically characterized. The materials were characterized using FTIR and UV-Vis. Solar cells were assembled using TiO(2) thin film on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass; a mesoporous film was sensitized with the Bougainvillea extracts. The obtained solar energy conversion efficiency was of 0.48% with a current density J(SC) of 2.29 mA/cm(2) using an irradiation of 100 mW/cm(2) at 25 °C.

(Z)-3-butylidenephthalide from Ligusticum porteri , an α-glucosidase inhibitor.

An extract from the roots of Ligusticum porteri, orally administered to groups of normal and diabetic mice, showed significant hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic effects. Experimental type-II DM was achieved by treating mice with streptozotocin 15 min after an injection of ß-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. (Z)-6,6',7,3'α-diligustilide (1), (Z)-ligustilide (2), 3-(Z)-butylidenephthalide (3), myristicin (4), and ferulic acid (5) were isolated from the active extract. When tested In Vivo, compounds 1-3 showed antihyperglycemic activity, with 3 being the most active. Compound 3 (56.2 mg/kg) decreased blood glucose levels in NAD-STZ-diabetic mice after an oral sucrose load, suggesting that its antihyperglycemic effect is due to inhibition of α-glucosidase at the intestinal level. Furthermore, 3 inhibited the activity of yeast-α-glucosidase (IC(50) 2.35 mM) in a noncompetitive fashion with a K(i) of 4.86 mM. Docking analysis predicted that 3 binds to the enzyme in a pocket close to the catalytic site, but different from that for acarbose, with a K(i) of 11.48 mM. Compounds 1 and 2 did not affect α-glucosidase In Vivo, but altered glucose absorption by a mechanism yet to be determined. The stimulatory effect of 5 on insulin secretion, present in high amounts in the extract, has been demonstrated in previous investigations. The present study provides scientific support of the use of L. porteri in Mexican folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes.

Dolores de crecimiento. Respuesta a los ejercicios de relajación / Growth pain. Response to relaxant exercises

En el periodo de julio de 1990 a julio de 1994 se captaron 77 pacientes cuyo diagnóstico era dolores de crecimiento -definidos de acuerdo al criterio de Naish y Apley-, en la consulta externa del Hospital Infantil de México; se excluyeron a aquellos pacientes con una patología musculoesquelética evidente, o que tuvieran una alteración en sus resultados de laboratorio o de radiología. Fueron 48 hombres y 35 mujeres, la edad osciló entre tres a 19 años. Se estableció un programa de ejercicio de relajación, por medio de estiramiento muscular (técnica de Baxter); obteniéndose una disminución de la frecuencia e intensidad del dolor a partir de algunas semanas de iniciado el tratamiento. Las diferentes teorías que se han propuesto de como los ejercicios mencionados resuelven el problema, nos obliga a pensar en un origen multifactorial del padecimiento

Tumores óseos malignos en niños. Tratamiento quirúrgico / Bone malignant tumors in children: Surgical treatment. epidemiologic review

Se revisaron 41 pacientes con tumores óseos malignos y un paciente con tumor benigno (tumor de células gigantes) con alto grado de agresividad, los cuales fueron tratados por el Servicio de Oncología, Patología y Ortopedia Pediátrica, en un periodo comprendido de enero de 1989 a octubre de 1995, en el Hospital Infantil de México "Federico Gómez". El osteosarcoma fue el tumor más representativo con 32 casos, le siguió el sarcoma de Ewing con 4 casos, el fibrosarcoma infantil con 2 casos, el rabdomiosarcoma con 2 casos, un linfoma de Hodgkin y un tumor de células gigantes. El sexo más afectado fue el masculino con 23 casos, por 19 femeninos. La edad de presentación fue de 2 menores de 5 años, 17 de 6 a 10 años, 19 de 11 a 15 años y 4 de 16 a 20 años. El segmento óseo más afectado fue el fémur con 28 casos, siguiendo la tibia con 6 casos, el iliaco con 3 casos, el pie con 2 casos, húmero y escápula con un caso. El síntoma principal fue el dolor en 33 casos, aumento de volumen en 40 casos, trauma previo en 18 casos. El tratamiento quirúrgico fue: 7 desarticulaciones, 6 amputaciones, 1 resección quirúrgica, 1 hemipelvectomía, 5 pendientes de tratamiento quirúrgico, 7 prótesis no convencionales, 1 endoprótesis tumoral tibial y 2 clavos centromedulares especiales la cirugía se llevó a cabo despúes de quimio y/o radioterápia