Fish intake in pregnant women and its impact on maternal-fetal health status.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the consumption of fish in pregnant women and its association with maternal and infant outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this observational study carried out at the La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital in Valencia, 300 pregnant women participated. The participants were divided into 2 groups according to their fish consumption during pregnancy for comparison. The χ2 test or ANOVA test were applied for comparisons for qualitative and quantitative variables respectively. RESULTS: It was observed that 49% of women consumed adequate amounts of fish during pregnancy (2 or 3 weekly servings). Significant differences were observed for iron supplementation (higher in women with inadequate fish consumption), threatened pregnancy loss (higher in women with inadequate fish consumption), infant size (better in women with adequate fish consumption), and arterial O2 pressure (better in women with adequate fish consumption). In regard to the other components of the dietary pattern, no differences were observed but the adequacy of intake for grains and white meat was very poor (less than 5.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Half of the women met the recommendations for fish intake during pregnancy and presented an overall healthier eating pattern but without statistical significance.

Effect of pepper extracts on the viability kinetics, topography and Quantitative NanoMechanics (QNM) of Campylobacter jejuni evaluated with AFM.

Campylobacter jejuni is a pathogen bacterium that causes foodborne gastroenteritis in humans. However, phenolic compounds extracted from natural sources such as capsicum pepper plant (Capsicum annuum L. var. aviculare) could inhibit the growth of C. jejuni. Therefore, different extracts were prepared using ultrasonic extraction (USE), conventional extraction (CE) and thermosonic extraction (TSE). C. jejuni was then exposed to chili extracts to examine the antimicrobial effect and their growth/death bacterial kinetics were studied using different mathematical models. Atomic force microscopy was applied to investigate the microstructural and nanomechanical changes in the bacteria. Extracts obtained by TSE had the highest phenolic content (4.59 ± 0.03 mg/g of chili fresh weight [FW]) in comparison to USE (4.12 ± 0.05 mg/g of chili FW) and CE (4.28 ± 0.07 mg/g of chili FW). The inactivation of C. jejuni was more efficient when thermosonic extract was used. The Gompertz model was the most suitable mathematical model to describe the inactivation kinetics of C. jejuni. Roughness and nanomechanical analysis performed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) provided evidence that the chili extracts had significant effects on morphology, surface, and the reduced Young's modulus of C. jejuni. The novelty of this work was integrating growth/death bacterial kinetics of C. jejuni using different mathematical models and chili extracts, and its relationship with the morphological, topographic and nanomechanical changes estimated by AFM.

Comparative effectiveness of water and salt community-based fluoridation methods in preventing dental caries among schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of water and salt community-based fluoridation methods on caries experience among schoolchildren. METHODS: Data derived from two population-based oral health surveys of 12-year-old schoolchildren exposed to different community-based fluoridation methods were compared: artificially fluoridated water in Porto Alegre, South Brazil and artificially fluoridated salt in Montevideo, Uruguay. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, maternal education and oral hygiene were collected. Dental caries was defined according to the WHO criteria (cavitated lesions) and to the modified WHO criteria (active noncavitated lesions and cavitated ones). The association between community-based fluoridation methods and dental caries was modelled using logistic (caries prevalence) and Poisson regression (DMFT). Odds ratios (OR), rate ratios (RR), and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. RESULTS: A total of 1528 in Porto Alegre and 1154 in Montevideo were examined (response rates: 83.2% and 69.6%, respectively). Adjusted estimates for caries prevalence and DMFT showed that schoolchildren from Porto Alegre were less affected by dental caries than their counterparts from Montevideo, irrespective of the criteria used. After adjusting for important characteristics, schoolchildren exposed to fluoridated salt had significantly higher likelihood of having caries (WHO criteria) than those exposed to fluoridated water (OR for prevalence=1.61, 95% CI=1.26-2.07; RR for DMFT=1.32, 95% CI=1.16-1.51). Similar differences were observed using the modified WHO criteria. CONCLUSION: Fluoridated water appears to provide a better protective effect against dental caries than fluoridated household salt among schoolchildren from developing countries.

In vitro screening of plant lectins and tropical plant extracts for anthelmintic properties.

Lectins are plant secondary metabolites (PSM) found in many forages and which may confer anthelmintic properties to gastrointestinal parasites through disrupting the development of parasitic larvae throughout its life cycle. In experiment 1, the ability of the plant lectins jacalin (JAC), concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin E2L2 (PHA-E2L2), phytohemagglutinin L4 (PHA-L4), phytohemagglutinin E3L (PHA-E3L), kidney bean albumin (KBA), Robinia pseudoacacia agglutinin (RPA), Maackia amurensis lectin (MAA), Maclura pomifera agglutinin (MAA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) to disrupt the feeding of the first stage larvae (L(1)) of the sheep gastro-intestinal nematodes (GIN) Teladorsagia circumcincta, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis was investigated using a larval feeding inhibition test (LFIT). Only PHA-E3L, WGA and Con A had a potent effect on disrupting larval feeding of all of the three species of GIN investigated. The lectin concentration required to inhibit feeding in 50% of L(1) (IC50) was 7.3±1.2, 8.3±1.4 and 4.3±1.7 µg/ml for PHA-E3L; 59.1±32.4, 58.7±11.9 and 8.1±7.0 µg/ml for Con A and 78.9±11.2, 69.4±8.1 and 28.0±14.1 µg/ml for WGA for T. circumcincta, H. contortus and T. colubriformis larvae, respectively (P=0.006). The addition of the lectin inhibitors fetuin, glucose/mannose or N-acetylglucosamine for PHA-E3L, Con A and WGA, respectively, caused an increase in the proportion of larvae that had fed at all concentrations for PHA-E3L only. In experiment 2, the effect of extracts from the tropical plants Azadiractha indica, Trichanthera gigantea, Morus alba, Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala on the feeding behaviour of H. contortus L(1,) was examined. A. indica, T. gigantea and M. alba failed to inhibit 50% of larvae from feeding at concentrations up to 10mg plant extract per ml. In contrast, both G. sepium and L. leucocephala demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on larval feeding with respective IC50 estimates (mean±s.e.) of 0.015 mg/ml ±0.001 and 3.465 mg/ml ±0.144, effects which were partly reversed by the inclusion of either the tannin inhibitor polyethylene glycol or the lectin inhibitor Fetuin. These studies demonstrate that plant lectins can have an inhibitory effect on the feeding behaviour of first stage larvae of ovine GIN in vitro. Moreover they also provide novel evidence that lectins may contribute to the anthelmintic properties of some tropical forage plant extracts, such as G. sepium and L. leucocephala.

Uso de la técnica de miofeedback orientada en actividades de la vida diaria básicas en personas secueladas de un accidente cerebro vascular / Myofeedback in basic activities daily life in patiens with stroke

El Accidente Cerebro Vascular (ACV) es la segunda causa de muerte en Chile y sus secuelas repercuten en el desempeño ocupacional; 50 por ciento necesita asistencia para bañarse, 30 por ciento para vestirse y 10 por ciento para higiene personal. La recuperación funcional e independencia es el objetivo de la rehabilitación, sin embargo, existe escasa evidencia de técnicas efectivas para usuarios secuelados de un ACV. El Miofeedback se ha dirigido al reaprendizaje de movimientos aislados y repetitivos, por lo tanto este trabajo tiene como objetivo "conocer el funcionamiento motor, ocupacional y de satisfacción de movimientos en usuarios con ACV antes y después de la aplicación de un Programa de Miofeedback orientado en AVDB". El grupo de estudio corresponde 8 personas. Cada uno tuvo 10 sesiones individuales de 60 minutos, 2 veces por semana, usando el miofeedback durante la ejecución de las AVDB. Evaluadores doble enmascarado aplican 5 pautas de evaluación al inicio y al término del Programa. Los participantes logran mejoras estadísticamente significativas en 5 de las 6 pautas, utilizando una prueba no paramétrica (t-student). Según estos resultados el uso de Miofeedback genera cambios significativos en los participantes, permitiendo generar evidencia tanto del uso de la ocupación como medio terapéutico, como de la tecnología al servicio de la rehabilitación.

The Stroke is the second reason of death in Chile and its sequels (motor, cognitive, etc) affect the occupational performance, causing dependence in basic activities of the daily living (BADL): 50 percent needs assistance to washing, 30 percent to dress and 10 percent for personal hygiene. The functional recovery and independence is the aim of the rehabilitation, but there exists scanty evidence of effective techniques for chronic users whit stroke. The myofeedback has gone to the relearning of aislated and repetitive movement, therefore this work has as aim "to know the motor occupational function and satisfaction of movement of stroke patients before and after the application of a Miofeedback's Program, oriented to BADL". The group of study corresponds to 8 persons. Each one had 10 individual sessions of 60 minutes, twice a week, using the Miofeedback during the performance of the BADL. Double blinded apply 5 test; motor, occupational function and satisfaction of movement to initial and final of treatment. Participants achieve statistically significant improvements in 5 of 6 tests, using non-parametric test (t-student). According to these results Miofeedback's use generates significant changes in the participants, allowing to generate evidence both on the use of occupation as a therapeutic means, as on the technology at the service of rehabilitation.

Evolución de los pacientes con enfermedad de Crohn de colon operados con el diagnóstico de colitis ulcerosa / Analysis of the outcome of patients with Crohn's colitis after surgery with the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis

Introducción: La proctocolectomía con reservorio íleal y anastomosis reservorio anal, (RIARA) es actualmente el procedimiento de elección en el tratamiento quirúrgico electivo de la colitis ulcerosa (CU). La colectomía total y anastomosis íleorrectal (AIR), está indicada en un seleccionado grupo de pacientes. Algunos pacientes sometidos a estas operaciones por aparente CU pueden evolucionar como una enfermedad de Crohn (EC). Objetivo: Comunicar el curso y pronóstico de pacientes que evolucionaron como EC luego de un tratamiento quirúrgico por una aparente CU. Materiales y métodos: Se identificaron a los pacientes que tuviesen tratamiento quirúrgico por CU, en el periodo 1978 al 2003. Se seleccionaron a los pacientes en los cuales en su evolución se cambió el diagnóstico a EC. En ellos se analizaron las variables quirúrgicas y su evolución posterior. Resultados: En el periodo mencionado se operaron 114 pacientes por CU. En 9 pacientes (8 por ciento) el diagnóstico cambió a EC, basado principalmente en la evolución clínica alejada y/o por estudio histológico: 3 de 20 (15 por ciento) después de una colectomía total con AIR y 6 de 84 (7 por ciento) después de una proctocolectomía con RIARA. Las localizaciones más frecuentes de las manifestaciones de la EC fueron el canal anal y periné. El tratamiento incluyó procedimientos quirúrgicos y tratamiento médico con antiinflamatorios y/o inmunomoduladores. Dos pacientes con una colectomía con AIR necesitaron una proctectomía e ileostomía. Se extirpó el reservorio en 1 de 6 pacientes con RIARA. En resumen, una minoría de pacientes sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico con el diagnóstico de CU evoluciona posteriormente como una EC. El tratamiento combinado médico quirúrgico contribuye a una baja incidencia de pérdida del reservorio ileal.

Bakground: Proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) is at present the procedure of choice for elective surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). Colectomy and ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) can be indicated in selected patients. Some patients submitted to these operations for apparent UC may subsequently evolve as Crohn's disease (CD). Objective: To report the course and prognosis of patients who evolved as CD after surgical treatment for apparent UC. Material and method: All the patients who had a surgical treatment for UC, from 1978 to 2003 were included. We identified the patients in which on follow-up the diagnosis changed to CD. Of these patients surgical variables and follow up were analyzed. Results: 114 patients were operated in this period for UC. In 9 patients (8 percent) their diagnosis changed to CD, based principally on subsequent clinical course and/or histological study: 3 of 20 (15 percent) after a total colectomy and IRA and in 6 of 84 (7 percent) after a proctocolectomy with IPAA. The anal canal and perineum were the most frequent localization of CD. Treatment included surgical procedures and medical treatment with anti-inflammatory and/or inmunomodulators. Two patients with a colectomy with IRA needed a proctectomy and ileostomy. Removal of ileal pouch was necessary on 1 of 6 with IPAA. In conclusion a minority of patients operated with the diagnosis of UC evolved as CD. Combined medical and surgical treatment contributed to a low rate of ileal pouch lost.

Actividad antimicótica de phenax rugosus (LAM) PERS y Baccharis trinervis (SW) WEDD / Antimycotic activity of Phenax rugosus (LAM) PERS And Baccharis trinervis (SW) WEDD

Se midió la actividad antimicótica in vitro de los extractos etanólicos de Phenax rugosus (esparietaria) y Baccharis trinervis (chilca) frente a los hongos Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentragrophytes y Candida albicans. Los extractos etanólicos de ambas plantas presentaron actividad antimicótica frente a los dermatofitos a dosis de 150mg/mL; Candida albicans no fuesensible a ninguno de estos extractos en concentraciones que variaron desde 150 hasta 1000 mg/mL/.

The in vitro antimycotic activity of the ethanolic extracts of Phenax rugosus and Baccharis trinervis was measured in regard to the fungi: Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida albicans. The etanolic extracts of both plants presented antimicotic activity in response to a 150 mg/ml dose of dermatophytes; Candida albicans was not sensitive to any of these extracts in concentrations varying between 150 up to 1000 mg/ml.

Efecto Antibacteriano in vitro de Austroeupatorium inulaefolium H.B.K. (Salvia amarga) y Ludwigia polygonoides H.B.K. (Clavo de laguna) / In vitro antibacterial effect of Austroepatorium inulaefolium H.B.K. (salvia amarga) and Ludwigia polygonoides H.B.K. (clavo de laguna)

Los extractos alcohólicos de las hojas de Austroeupatorium inulaefolium H.B.K. y Ludwigia polygonoides H.B.K. se ensayaron in vitro para determinar la actividad antibacteriana y la CMI frente a Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli y Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ambos extractos presentaron actividad antibacteriana frente a Staphylococcus aureus; Austroeupatorium inulaefolium a concentraciones de 50mg/mL y Ludwigia polygonoides a 25mg/mL. Ninguno de los extractos mostró actividad frente a Escherichia coli o Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The alcoholic extracts of the leaves of Austroeupatorium inulaefolium H.B.K. and Ludwigia polygonoides H.B.K. they were tested in vitro to determine the antibacterian activity and the CMI in response to Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudoma aeruginosa. Both extracts presented antibacterian activity in regards to Staphyloccus aureus, as well as to Austroeupatorium inulaefolium with 50 mg/ml concentrations and to Ludwigia polygonoides with 25 mg/ml. None of the extracts showed activity in response to Escherichia coli o Pseudomona aeruginosa.

Analysis of drug resistance-associated mutations in treatment-naïve individuals infected with different genetic forms of HIV-1 circulating in countries of the former Soviet Union.

There are few data on drug resistance-associated mutations in the former Soviet Union since, studies have usually been focused on the env or gag genes for subtype information. This study examines the prevalence and patterns of resistance-associated mutations to reverse transcriptase and protease inhibitors (RTI, PRI) in 278 HIV-1-infected treatment-naïve subjects from countries of Eastern Europe, and defines characteristic polymorphisms of RT and PR sequences in HIV-1 subtype A viruses. Blood samples were collected between 1997 and 2004. Plasma RNA was used for PR-RT amplification by reverse transcription coupled with nested PCR and sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis was done with neighbor-joining trees and bootscanning. Analysis of drug resistance mutations, with Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database's algorithm, resulted in an overall prevalence of 12.9% resistance to RTI and 3.9% to PRI. The most frequent substitutions in the RT region were at positions 62 and 236. V77I substitution in PR was found in 47.8% of samples. Polymorphisms in subtype A sequences were identified. This is the first study reporting the prevalence and patterns of both PRI and RTI resistance-associated mutations in naïve HIV-1 infected patients from the former Soviet Union. These data underline the importance of genotypic resistance testing of chronically HIV-1-infected patients before initiating treatment, in order to select the most suitable drug regimen.

Síndrome hemolítico urémico en Santiago de Chile: evolución de la función renal y factores pronósticos / Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), prognostic factors and follow up of renal function, in Santiago, Chile

Introducción: El Síndrome Hemolítico Urémico (SHU) se caracteriza por falla renal aguda, anemia hemolítica microangiopática y trombocitopenia; es la causa más frecuente de insuficiencia renal aguda en la infancia. Objetivo: a) Describir las características actuales del cuadro inicial de SHU en nuestro medio y comparar con lo descrito anteriormente; b) Describir la evolución a 1 año plazo y evaluar posibles factores pronósticos de función renal. Sujetos y Métodos: Se estudiaron variables demográficas, presentación clínica, exámenes bioquímicos y hematológicos, en 374 pacientes con SHU diagnosticados entre Enero 1990 a Diciempe 2002 en 9 hospitales de la Región Metropolitana; se evaluó además función renal al año de seguimiento en una muestra de 213 pacientes y se identificaron factores pronósticos de insuficiencia renal crónica y mortalidad utilizando el análisis de regresión logística. Resultados: Se analizaron 374 pacientes, 50,5 por ciento mujeres, 65,5 por ciento de la Región Metropolitana, edad promedio 1,5 ± 1,4 años (0,2 a 8); 91 por ciento presentó diarrea, 31 por ciento ocurrió en verano, al ingreso 57 por ciento presentó anuria, 43,3 por ciento hipertensión arterial y convulsiones 23 por ciento. Al alta 28 por ciento persistía hipertenso. Las terapias de sustitución renal utilizadas fueron: diálisis peritoneal (50 por ciento), hemodiafiltración (6 por ciento) y hemodiálisis (3 por ciento); recibió plasmaféresis 1 por ciento. Se aisló agente etiológico en 17 por ciento, siendo en 69 por ciento E. coli enterohemorrágica. La mortalidad fue de 2,7 por ciento, siendo la causa principal la falla orgánica múltiple. En el seguimiento al año: 80 por ciento mantuvo función renal normal, 14 por ciento presento deterioro de la función renal, 6 por ciento proteinuria y 4 por ciento hipertensión. Se encontró significativo como factor pronóstico de daño renal: hipertensión arterial (p < 0,0001), necesidad de peritoneodiálisis y hemodiálisis (p: 0,001, p: 0,0015 respectivamente), anuria (p: 0,005) y convulsiones (p: 0,01). Se correlacionó con mortalidad en la etapa aguda: convulsiones, requerimiento de hemodiafiltración y plasmaféresis, (p < 0,0001, p: 0,0001 y p < 0,0001 respectivamente).

Total nutritional therapy: a nutrition education program for physicians.

OBJECTIVE: Almost half of all hospitalized patients are malnourished with low physician awareness or implementation of nutrition support. To address this problem, a 2-day immersion course in clinical nutrition for physicians was developed by the Latin American Federation of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (FELANPE) with support from Abbott Laboratories. The goal of Total Nutritional Therapy (TNT) is to help physicians utilize this nutrition knowledge to increase their awareness of malnutrition and implementation of nutritional therapy. Since 1997, over 8,000 physicians have completed the TNT course in 16 Latin American countries. RESEARCH METHODS & PROCEDURES: During 1999 and 2000, 675 participants responded to a survey 6 months after having completed the TNT course to determine what impact the course had on the use of nutrition assessment, nutrition support teams, or nutrition consultations in their clinical practice, and if they had participated in any nutrition association or conferences. RESULTS: The majority of physicians who completed the survey increased their use of nutrition assessment and time dedicated to nutrition therapy, and increased the number of their patients placed on nutrition therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The TNT course has been shown to be an efficient model of clinical nutrition education for general physicians. The course should be considered as part of the training of medical residents.

Inhibition of human pathogenic fungi by ethnobotanically selected plant extracts.

In this study, 36 extracts derived from 29 plant species selected using an ethnobotanical approach were tested for antifungal activity against a taxonomically diverse group of 13 human pathogenic fungi. We compared the inhibitory characteristics of these plant extracts with those of the commonly used antifungals, amphotericin B and ketoconazole, and the plant-derived antifungal, berberine. Several plant extracts, notably those from Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Juglans cinerea (butternut), had pronounced antifungal activity against a wide variety of fungi, including strains that were highly resistant to amphotericin B and ketoconazole. Further exploration of Z. officinale as an antifungal is warranted as this species is generally regarded as safe for human consumption.

Cuerpo extraño en peligro de extinción / Foreign body in danger of extinction

No disponible

Polysomnographic evaluation of the hypnotic effect of Valeriana edulis standardized extract in patients suffering from insomnia.

Valeriana edulis ssp. procera, commonly known as "valeriana mexicana", is widely used in Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety. To evaluate the hypnotic effect and safety of 450 mg of Valeriana edulis standardized hydroalcoholic extract in patients with insomnia, a double-blind, cross-over, controlled study was carried out. Valeriana officinalis extract, at the same doses, was used as a positive control. In a sleep laboratory, polysomnographic (PSG) recordings were performed for analyzing the quantity and architecture of sleep as well as evaluating morning sleepiness, memory quotient, and side effects. The experimental procedures were conducted on four consecutive nights of 8 h each. Twenty patients were admitted. Based on the PSG results, V. edulis reduced the number of awaking episodes while both treatments increased the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep; this last parameter was better improved by V. officinalis extract. Other PSG data did not achieve outstanding statistical differences, but the clinical tendency with both treatments was to increase the sleep efficiency index. These Valeriana extracts produced beneficial effects on sleep architecture because they diminished the time of stages 1 and 2 in non-REM sleep while they increased delta sleep. Validated clinical tests showed that both species reduced notoriously the morning sleepiness, that was further improved by V. officinalis extract, and did not affect anterograde memory. In only three cases were slight side effects observed, one due to the experimental extract. Chemical analysis of the hydroalcoholic extract of V. edulis indicated that this extract contains 0.26 % of dihydroisovaltrate as the main valepotriate, and that it does not contain valerenic acid. In general, the results support the hypnotic effect and safety of acute treatment of Valeriana edulis and Valeriana officinalis on patients suffering insomnia.

Changes of skeletal muscle proteases activities during a chronic low-frequency stimulation period.

Modifications of muscular contractile patterns by chronic low-frequency stimulation induce structural, physiological, and biochemical transformations in fast-twitch fibers that cause them to act like slow-twitch muscle. During this transformation many changes in protein pattern appear and the proteolytic system may be involved in those changes. The activities of cathepsin L, B, H, D, the level of cystatin, as well as the calpain activity in rabbit fast-twitch muscle have been compared with those of slow-twitch muscle. The results show that fast-twitch muscle has lower cathepsin activities and higher calpain activities than slow-twitch muscle. Chronic low-frequency stimulation was applied for 24 days to fast-twitch muscles and changes in proteases and protease inhibitors (cystatin and calpastatin) were studied. After 7-14 days of stimulation, lysosomal cathepsin L, B, and D and cytoplasm calpain and proteosome activities increased several-fold. Involvement of the phagocyte cells in the protein fiber turnover was minimal. Although the turnover of contractile proteins during muscle electrostimulation takes place in synchrony with changes in the muscle proteolytic system, the stimulation period used did not attain the total transformation from fast- to slow-twitch muscle proteolytic pattern.

SC-1, an antimycotic spirostan saponin from Solanum chrysotrichum.

A new antimycotic steroidal saponin named SC-1 has been isolated from the leaves of Solanum chrysotrichum by bioassay-guided fractionation. The structure of SC-1 was characterized as 3-O-[beta-quinovopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta- glucopyranosyl]chlorogenin on the basis of spectral analyses and chemical evidence.

Diagnóstico de diarrea por clostridium difficile: en busca de un enfoque clínico más eficiente / Clinical diagnosis of clostridium difficile diarrhea: searching a more efficient clinical view

Background: The clinical parameters for the suspicion of Clostridium difficile infections, namely the use of antimicrobials and diarrhea, have a low predictive value for the diagnosis. Aim: To search other clinical variables and determine a clinical prediction model for (Clostridium difficile diarrhea. Patients and methods: All patients to whom a Clostridium difficile study was requested, were prospectively studied during 5 months. Clinical variables of these patients were registered. The diagnosis of Clostridium difficile was done using the cytotoxicity test in fibroblast cultures. Results: Ninety two patients were analyzed and in 26, the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile was confirmed. A logistic regression model disclosed an age over 60 years old, the presence of mucus in the stools and a temperature over 37.8 ­C in the previous 24 h, as significant predictors of the infection. The correlation of the model, between the predicted probability and the observed condition, was 81.5 per cent. Conclusions: The presence of the clinical variables identified in this study are associated with a high probability of an infection by Clostridium difficile in patients with diarrhea and the recent use of antimicrobials

Recent progress in biotechnology of Mexican medicinal plants.

Based on traditional medicinal knowledge, it was possible to identify the plant species Solanum chrysotrichum as the source of a new antimycotic agent designated SC-1. Cell suspension batch cultures from this plant were established in shake flasks, in which the production of SC-1 was optimized, reaching values fifty times higher than those registered in field grown plants. Large-scale cultivation of the active biomass from S. chrysotrichum was established in 10 l airlift bioreactors, and productivity levels of SC-1 were increased by 60% when using a draw-fill mode in the bioreactors.

Cytotoxic isoflavans from Eysenhardtia polystachya.

Two new cytotoxic isoflavans, (3S)-7-hydroxy-2',3',4',5', 8-pentamethoxyisoflavan (1) and (3S)-3',7-dihydroxy-2',4',5', 8-tetramethoxyisoflavan (2), were isolated from the bark and trunks of Eysenhardtia polystachya (Leguminosae), together with the known constituents stigmasterol, isoduartin, cuneatin, 7-hydroxy-2',4', 5'-trimethoxyisoflavone, and 3,4-dimethoxy-8, 9-(methylenedioxy)pterocarpan. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and insecticidal potential of some of these compounds were evaluated. The isoflavans 1, 2, and isoduartin (2', 7-dihydroxy-3',4',8-trimethoxyisoflavan) displayed moderate cytotoxic activity against KB cell lines.