Association of smoking with anal high-risk HPV infection and histologically confirmed anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions among a clinic-based population in Puerto Rico.

INTRODUCTION: Current smoking is a risk factor for anal cancer. Yet, its association with anal human papillomavirus infection (HPV) and anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) remains unclear. We assessed the association of smoking with 1) anal high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection and 2) anal HSIL. METHODS: Data from the baseline visit of patients from the Anal Neoplasia Clinic of the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center (May 2015- June 2021) was analyzed. Patients were eligible if they had information on smoking status, complete high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) with biopsy, and HR-HPV testing (n =  427). Logistic regression models estimated the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Mean age was 44 ± 13 years, 69% were men, 74% were HIV-infected, and 25% reported being current smokers. 74% had anal HR-HPV infection. HSIL was diagnosed in 40% of patients. Current smokers had significantly higher odds (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.04-2.82) of having HSIL compared to non-smokers after adjusting for age, sexual risk group, lifetime number of sexual partners, HIV status, and HR-HPV infection. Smoking was not associated with HR-HPV infection (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 0.83-2.95) after adjusting for age, sexual risk group, lifetime number of sexual partners, and HIV status. CONCLUSIONS: Current smoking was associated with histologically confirmed HSIL but not with HR-HPV infection among this high-risk Hispanic population. Results highlight the need to explore targeted smoking cessation campaigns among populations at higher risk of developing HSIL, as an anal cancer prevention strategy.

Convolutional capture of the expansion of extra virgin olive oil droplets to quantify adulteration.

In this research, more than 302,000 images of five different types of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) have been collected to train and validate a system based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to carry out their classification. Furthermore, comparable deep learning models have also been trained to detect and quantify the adulteration of these EVOOs with other vegetable oils. In this work, three groups of CNN models have been tested for (i) the classification of all EVOOs, (ii) the detection and quantification of adulterated samples for each individual EVOO, and (iii) a global version of the previous models combining all EVOOs into a single quantifying CNN. This last model was successfully validated using 30,195 images that were initially isolated from the initial database. The result was an algorithm capable of detecting and accurately classifying the five types of EVOO and their respective adulteration concentrations with an overall hit rate of >96%. Therefore, EVOO droplet analyses via CNNs have proven to be a convincing quality control tool for the evaluation of EVOO, which can be carried by producers, distributors, or even final consumers, to help locate adulterations.

In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Plant Extracts on Pathogenic Fungi of Blueberry (Vaccinium sp.).

Three pathogenic fungi of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) responsible for dieback disease, identified as Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae, were isolated in the northwestern region of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The mycelial growth in vitro of these fungi was inhibited by extracts from Lantana hirta, Argemone ochroleuca and Adenophyllum porophyllum, medicinal plants collected in Sahuayo, Michoacán, Mexico. The extracts showed different degrees of inhibition; the most effective were: M5L extract from L. hirta and M6LFr extract from A. ochroleuca, both of which inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth of P. clavispora and C. gloeosporioides; and M4LS extract from A. porophyllum, which inhibited 100% of the mycelial growth of the three pathogens. The extracts were fractionated by thin layer and column chromatography, and the most active fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major compounds identified in L. hirta extract were Phytol and α-Sitosterol. The compounds identified in A. ochroleuca were Toluene and Benzene, 1,3-bis(3-phenoxyphenoxy)-. In A. porophyllum, the compound identified was Hexanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester. These results show the potential of L. hirta, A. ochroleuca and A. porophyllum as a source of antifungal compounds.

Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oil and its Major Terpenes of Satureja macrostema (Moc. and Sessé ex Benth.) Briq.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant activity of Satureja macrostema (Moc. and Sessé ex Benth.) Briq. (Lamiaceae) essential oil, a Mexican medicinal plant known as nurite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fresh aerial parts of S. macrostema plants cultivated in greenhouse for 3 months were subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger apparatus to obtain essential oil. Volatile compounds were identified by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry. Antioxidant effectiveness of essential oil and its major terpenes of S. macrostema was examined by three different radical scavenging methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The concentrations tested were 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/mL. RESULTS: The major volatile compounds were caryophyllene, limonene, linalool, pulegone, menthone, and thymol. S. macrostema essential oil showed the highest free radical scavenging activity with DPPH and ABTS methods (53.10% and 92.12%, respectively) at 1 mg/mL and 98% with TAC method at 0.1 mg/mL. Thymol exerted the highest antioxidant capacity with 0.1 mg/mL, reaching 83.38%, 96.96%, and 98.57% by DPPH, ABTS, and TAC methods. Caryophyllene, limonene, linalool, pulegone, and menthone exhibited an antioxidant capacity <25% with the DPPH and ABTS methods; however, limonene showed a TAC of 85.41% with 0.01 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: The essential oil of S. macrostema and thymol showed a free radical scavenging activity close to that of the synthetic butylated hydroxytoluene. SUMMARY: The major volatile compounds of essential oil of Satureja macrostema were caryophyllene, limonene, linalool, pulegone, menthone and thymolThe essential oil of S. macrostema showed a high free radical scavengingThymol exerted the highest antioxidant capacity by DPPH, ABTS and TAC methods. Abbreviations used: GC: Gas Chromatography; DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; ABTS: 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid; TAC: Total antioxidant capacity.

Facilitating medication adherence in patients with multiple sclerosis.

This article reviews adherence to medication in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients from the perspective of nurse and social worker authors. It reviews data on patient adherence and offers practical, evidence-based strategies that health-care providers can use to facilitate adherence. In addition, it examines how emerging MS therapies may affect patient adherence and associated interventions. To promote adherence, interventions need to incorporate new and creative approaches. A proactive approach includes assessing patient needs and lifestyle before the start of medication and selecting the most appropriate disease-modifying therapy for each individual patient. Including multidisciplinary expertise and services in the treatment plan can be part of a comprehensive, holistic approach to helping patients and families. Optimization of health-care provider roles is likely to facilitate improved adherence.

Uso de la magnetoterapia en afecciones articulares y periarticulares / Use of magnetotherapy in articular and periarticular disorders

Se analizan los resultados obtenidos en 200 pacientes tratados en el Policlínico Integral Docente Centro, de Camagüey, con diversas artropatías y enfermedades ortopédicas y reumatológicas. Se utilizó el campo magnético producido por el equipo TERAMAG-MT-200. Se obtuvo buen resultado en 189 casos (94,5 por ciento). Las afecciones más beneficiadas fueron las de la rodilla (osteoartritis, sinovitis, fibrosis y rigideces posquirúrgicas, condromalacia y enfermedad de Hoffa), la epicondilitis y otras lesiones del codo, la periatritis escapulohumeral, tendinitis, insercionitis, trocanteritis, síndrome de Barré-Liéou y los dedos en resorte. Se describen los métodos utilizados en cada afección(AU)

Uso de la magnetoterapia en afecciones articulares y periarticulares / Use of magnetotherapy in articular and periarticular disorders

Se analizan los resultados obtenidos en 200 pacientes tratados en el Policlínico Integral Docente Centro, de Camagüey, con diversas artropatías y enfermedades ortopédicas y reumatológicas. Se utilizó el campo magnético producido por el equipo TERAMAG-MT-200. Se obtuvo buen resultado en 189 casos (94,5 por ciento). Las afecciones más beneficiadas fueron las de la rodilla (osteoartritis, sinovitis, fibrosis y rigideces posquirúrgicas, condromalacia y enfermedad de Hoffa), la epicondilitis y otras lesiones del codo, la periatritis escapulohumeral, tendinitis, insercionitis, trocanteritis, síndrome de Barré-Liéou y los dedos en resorte. Se describen los métodos utilizados en cada afección

Los lipidos de tercera generacion: nuevas emulsiones con trigliceridos de cadena media para nutricion parenteral / Third generation lipids: new emulsions with medium chain triglycerides for parenteral nutrition

Los lipidos de tercera generacion que son una mezcla de TCM y TCL, parecen representar un valioso elemento nuevo para el soporte metabolico y nutricional del paciente en estado critico, por su facil administracion por via periferica y las importantes caracteristicas de rapida utilizacion biologica libre de complicaciones y efectos secundarios indeseables.