The Chemical Probes Portal: an expert review-based public resource to empower chemical probe assessment, selection and use.

We describe the Chemical Probes Portal (https://www.chemicalprobes.org/), an expert review-based public resource to empower chemical probe assessment, selection and use. Chemical probes are high-quality small-molecule reagents, often inhibitors, that are important for exploring protein function and biological mechanisms, and for validating targets for drug discovery. The publication, dissemination and use of chemical probes provide an important means to accelerate the functional annotation of proteins, the study of proteins in cell biology, physiology, and disease pathology, and to inform and enable subsequent pioneering drug discovery and development efforts. However, the widespread use of small-molecule compounds that are claimed as chemical probes but are lacking sufficient quality, especially being inadequately selective for the desired target or even broadly promiscuous in behaviour, has resulted in many erroneous conclusions in the biomedical literature. The Chemical Probes Portal was established as a public resource to aid the selection and best-practice use of chemical probes in basic and translational biomedical research. We describe the background, principles and content of the Portal and its technical development, as well as examples of its applications and use. The Chemical Probes Portal is a community resource and we therefore describe how researchers can be involved in its content and development.

canSAR: update to the cancer translational research and drug discovery knowledgebase.

canSAR (https://cansar.ai) is the largest public cancer drug discovery and translational research knowledgebase. Now hosted in its new home at MD Anderson Cancer Center, canSAR integrates billions of experimental measurements from across molecular profiling, pharmacology, chemistry, structural and systems biology. Moreover, canSAR applies a unique suite of machine learning algorithms designed to inform drug discovery. Here, we describe the latest updates to the knowledgebase, including a focus on significant novel data. These include canSAR's ligandability assessment of AlphaFold; mapping of fragment-based screening data; and new chemical bioactivity data for novel targets. We also describe enhancements to the data and interface.

canSAR: update to the cancer translational research and drug discovery knowledgebase.

canSAR (http://cansar.icr.ac.uk) is the largest, public, freely available, integrative translational research and drug discovery knowledgebase for oncology. canSAR integrates vast multidisciplinary data from across genomic, protein, pharmacological, drug and chemical data with structural biology, protein networks and more. It also provides unique data, curation and annotation and crucially, AI-informed target assessment for drug discovery. canSAR is widely used internationally by academia and industry. Here we describe significant developments and enhancements to the data, web interface and infrastructure of canSAR in the form of the new implementation of the system: canSARblack. We demonstrate new functionality in aiding translation hypothesis generation and experimental design, and show how canSAR can be adapted and utilised outside oncology.

canSAR: update to the cancer translational research and drug discovery knowledgebase.

canSAR (http://cansar.icr.ac.uk) is a public, freely available, integrative translational research and drug discovery knowlegebase. canSAR informs researchers to help solve key bottlenecks in cancer translation and drug discovery. It integrates genomic, protein, pharmacological, drug and chemical data with structural biology, protein networks and unique, comprehensive and orthogonal 'druggability' assessments. canSAR is widely used internationally by academia and industry. Here we describe major enhancements to canSAR including new and expanded data. We also describe the first components of canSARblack-an advanced, responsive, multi-device compatible redesign of canSAR with a question-led interface.

Geographical Distribution of COPD Prevalence in the Americas.

Surveys estimating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence are unevenly distributed in the Americas, which make it difficult to estimate accurately its geographical distribution. The geographic information system inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation technique has proved to be an effective tool in spatial distribution estimation of epidemiological variables, even when real data are few or widely spread. We aimed to represent cartographically the COPD prevalence in the Americas by means of a blue to red scale representation of the prevalence data, where different values are represented as different colours, and a population density filtered IDW interpolation mapping, where areas with a population density <0.1 inhabitants/km2 are hidden. We systematically searched for prevalence rates from population surveys of individuals 40 years and older, and a COPD diagnosis confirmed by spirometry. Interpolation maps were obtained for the whole Americas, even from extensive areas lacking real data. Maps showed high prevalence values in the Southeast and Southwest regions of Canada bordering the United States; in several states of the Great Lakes region, and in the lower Missouri, Ohio and Mississippi basins of the United States; in the coastal regions of south-eastern and southern Brazil; Uruguay, and the Argentine Pampas. In general, most of the remaining American regions showed intermediate values of COPD prevalence. IDW interpolation seems to be a suitable tool to visually display estimates of COPD prevalence, and it may be a valuable help to draw attention about the worrying prevalence of this preventable and treatable disease.

Antioxidant Activity and Phytochemical Characterization of Senecio clivicolus Wedd.

Antioxidant phytochemicals play a key role in oxidative stress control and in the prevention of related disorders, such as premature aging, degenerative diseases, diabetes, and cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential antioxidant activity and the phytochemical profile of Senecio clivicolus Wedd., a perennial shrub, belonging to the Asteraceae family. Despite the wide interest of this family, this specie has not been investigated yet. S. clivicolus aerial parts were extracted with 96% ethanol. Then, the ethanol extract was fractionated by liquid/liquid extraction using an increasing solvents polarity. Total polyphenol and terpenoid contents were measured. Moreover, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by six different complementary in vitro assays. The Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI) was used to compare data obtained by different tests. The sample showing the highest RACI was subjected to characterization and quantitation of its phenolic composition using LC-MS/MS analysis. The ethyl acetate fraction, investigated by LC-MS/MS analysis, showed 30 compounds, most of them are chlorogenic acid and flavonoid derivatives. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the evaluation of antioxidant activity and phytochemical profile of S. clivicolus, underlying the importance of this species as a source of health-promoting phytochemicals.

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antidiabetic and Anticholinesterase Activities of Smallanthus sonchifolius Landraces and Correlation with Their Phytochemical Profiles.

The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile of leaf methanol extracts of fourteen Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) landraces and their antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antidiabetic activities that could lead to the finding of more effective agents for the treatment and management of Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. For this purpose, antioxidant activity was assessed using different tests: ferric reducing ability power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (˙NO) and superoxide (O2˙-) scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. Anticholinesterase activity was investigated by quantifying the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities, whereas antidiabetic activity was investigated by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition tests. To understand the contribution of metabolites, phytochemical screening was also performed by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) system. Among all, methanol extract of PER09, PER04 and ECU44 landraces exhibited the highest relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI). ECU44 was found to be rich in 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) and 3,5-di-O-CQA and displayed a good α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, showing the lowest IC50 values. Flavonoids, instead, seem to be involved in the AChE and BChE inhibition. The results of this study revealed that the bioactive compound content differences could be determinant for the medicinal properties of this plant especially for antioxidant and antidiabetic activities.

canSAR chemistry registration and standardization pipeline.

BACKGROUND: Integration of medicinal chemistry data from numerous public resources is an increasingly important part of academic drug discovery and translational research because it can bring a wealth of important knowledge related to compounds in one place. However, different data sources can report the same or related compounds in various forms (e.g., tautomers, racemates, etc.), thus highlighting the need of organising related compounds in hierarchies that alert the user on important bioactivity data that may be relevant. To generate these compound hierarchies, we have developed and implemented canSARchem, a new compound registration and standardization pipeline as part of the canSAR public knowledgebase. canSARchem builds on previously developed ChEMBL and PubChem pipelines and is developed using KNIME. We describe the pipeline which we make publicly available, and we provide examples on the strengths and limitations of the use of hierarchies for bioactivity data exploration. Finally, we identify canonicalization enrichment in FDA-approved drugs, illustrating the benefits of our approach. RESULTS: We created a chemical registration and standardization pipeline in KNIME and made it freely available to the research community. The pipeline consists of five steps to register the compounds and create the compounds' hierarchy: 1. Structure checker, 2. Standardization, 3. Generation of canonical tautomers and representative structures, 4. Salt strip, and 5. Generation of abstract structure to generate the compound hierarchy. Unlike ChEMBL's RDKit pipeline, we carry out compound canonicalization ahead of getting the parent structure, similar to PubChem's OpenEye pipeline. canSARchem has a lower rejection rate compared to both PubChem and ChEMBL. We use our pipeline to assess the impact of grouping the compounds in hierarchies for bioactivity data exploration. We find that FDA-approved drugs show statistically significant sensitivity to canonicalization compared to the majority of bioactive compounds which demonstrates the importance of this step. CONCLUSIONS: We use canSARchem to standardize all the compounds uploaded in canSAR (> 3 million) enabling efficient data integration and the rapid identification of alternative compound forms with useful bioactivity data. Comparison with PubChem and ChEMBL pipelines evidenced comparable performances in compound standardization, but only PubChem and canSAR canonicalize tautomers and canSAR has a slightly lower rejection rate. Our results highlight the importance of compound hierarchies for bioactivity data exploration. We make canSARchem available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0) at https://gitlab.icr.ac.uk/cansar-public/compound-registration-pipeline .

Phytochemicals of Minthostachys diffusa Epling and Their Health-Promoting Bioactivities.

The genus Minthostachys belonging to the Lamiaceae family, and is an important South American mint genus used commonly in folk medicine as an aroma in cooking. The phytochemical-rich samples of the aerial parts of Minthostachys diffusa Epling. were tested for pharmacological and health-promoting bioactivities using in vitro chemical and enzymatic assays. A range of radical scavenging activities of the samples against biological radicals such as nitric oxide and superoxide anion and against synthetic 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals, the ferric reducing antioxidant power and the lipid peroxidation inhibition were determined and ranked using the 'relative antioxidant capacity index' (RACI). The ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest RACI of +1.12. Analysis of the various fractions' inhibitory ability against enzymes involved in diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), and against enzymes associated with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) also suggested that the ethyl acetate fraction was the most active. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction showed more than 30 polyphenolic compounds, including triterpenes. The inhibitory cholinesterase effects of the triterpenes identified from M. diffusa were further analysed by in silico docking of these compounds into 3D-structures of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. This is the first study on pharmacological activities and phytochemical profiling of the aerial parts of M. diffusa, showing that this plant, normally used as food in South America, is also rich in health-promoting phytochemicals.

Genetic and chemical diversity among yacon [Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. et Endl.) H. Robinson] accessions based on iPBS markers and metabolomic fingerprinting.

The present study is focused on the characterization of yacon [Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. et Endl.) H. Robinson] accessions from different geographic origins (Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru) by iPBS markers and metabolomic fingerprinting. The results showed that the number of amplified polymorphic fragment levels ranged from 20 up to 27 with a level of polymorphism ranging from 80 to 100%. Five of the iPBS primers used in this study provided no specific banding pattern able to discriminate between the different yacon accessions. However, two iPBS primer pairs were able to separate Peru accessions from those of Ecuador and Bolivia. The UPLC-HRMS/MS-based metabolomic fingerprinting showed highly similar metabolomic fingerprints characterized by the accumulation of high quantities of sesquiterpene lactones and diterpenes, but no apparent geographic clustering. The present study demonstrates that yacon accessions from different geographical origins maintained ex situ (in the Czech Republic) present a rather low chemical and genetic diversity.

Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Anticholinesterase Activities and Phytochemical Profile of Azorella glabra Wedd.

Oxidative stress is involved in different diseases, such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. The genus Azorella includes about 70 species of flowering plant species; most of them are commonly used as food and in particular as a tea infusion in the Andean region of South America in folk medicine to treat various chronic diseases. Azorella glabra Wedd. aerial parts were firstly analyzed for their in vitro antioxidant activity using different complementary assays. In particular, radical scavenging activity was tested against biological neutral radical DPPH; ferric reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibitory capacity (FRAP and Beta-Carotene Bleaching tests) were also determined. The Relative Antioxidant Capacity Index (RACI) was used to compare data obtained by different assays. Then, the inhibitory ability of samples was investigated against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes involved in diabetes and against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes considered as strategy for the treatment of Parkinson's or Alzheimer's diseases. Moreover, the phytochemical profile of the sample showing the highest RACI (1.35) and interesting enzymatic activities (IC50 of 163.54 ± 9.72 and 215.29 ± 17.10 µg/mL in α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition, respectively) was subjected to characterization and quantification of its phenolic composition using LC-MS/MS analysis. In fact, the ethyl acetate fraction derived from ethanol extract by liquid/liquid extraction showed 29 compounds, most of them are cinnamic acid derivatives, flavonoid derivatives, and a terpene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report about the evaluation of significant biological activities and phytochemical profile of A. glabra, an important source of health-promoting phytochemicals.

An Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico.

An ethnobotanical study was performed to collect information on the use of medicinal plants in Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico. The area has a high number of endemic species, and the social importance of the medicinal plants in the community is essential for public health and the conservation of traditional knowledge. This study identified the medicinal plants currently used, registered traditional knowledge, and documented the patterns of ailments treated in the indigenous communities of Totonacas. A total of 101 medicinal plants belonging to 51 families were described by 85 local informants. Asteraceae was the family with the highest number of plant species identified by these informants. Plant parts are used to treat several ailments, including venomous bites, gastro-intestinal disorders, infectious diseases and other disorders. Informants reported that the most common plant part used was the leaf tissue (55%), and they also took the herbal remedies orally (72%), and decoctions (38%) as well as infusions (29%) were the forms used to prepare these natural remedies. This study provides documentation of medicinal plants used in the Veracruz area of Mexico. Mexican people are still dependent upon medicinal plants, and in order to avoid their loss, certain measures of conservation for medicinal plants are needed.

Geographical distribution of COPD prevalence in Europe, estimated by an inverse distance weighting interpolation technique.

Existing data on COPD prevalence are limited or totally lacking in many regions of Europe. The geographic information system inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation technique has proved to be an effective tool in spatial distribution estimation of epidemiological variables, when real data are few and widely separated. Therefore, in order to represent cartographically the prevalence of COPD in Europe, an IDW interpolation mapping was performed. The point prevalence data provided by 62 studies from 19 countries (21 from 5 Northern European countries, 11 from 3 Western European countries, 14 from 5 Central European countries, and 16 from 6 Southern European countries) were identified using validated spirometric criteria. Despite the lack of data in many areas (including all regions of the eastern part of the continent), the IDW mapping predicted the COPD prevalence in the whole territory, even in extensive areas lacking real data. Although the quality of the data obtained from some studies may have some limitations related to different confounding factors, this methodology may be a suitable tool for obtaining epidemiological estimates that can enable us to better address this major public health problem.

Identificación molecular y diversidad genética de las especies de nematodos Globodera rostochiensis y G. pallida en regiones productoras de papa de Guatemala / Molecular identification and genetic diversity of the species of nematodesGlobodera rostochiensisandG. pallidain potato growing regions of Guatemala

En Guatemala, la producción del cultivo de papa se ve afectada por los nematodos Globodera rostochiensis y Globo-dera pallida. La capacidad de ambas especies para formar quistes complica su control y provoca el aumento de sus poblaciones. En Guatemala se reporta la presencia de ambas especies de nematodos por identificación morfológica, sin embargo, no se ha realizado una confirmación molecular. Este es el primer estudio para validar la presencia de ambas especies de nematodos por PCR múltiple y la determinación de la diversidad y estructura genética de las poblaciones utilizando marcadores moleculares. Se realizaron muestreos en cuatro departamentos productores de papa del país. La identificación por PCR se realizó con el cebador común ITS5 y los cebadores PITSr3 específico para G. rostochiensisy PITSp4 para G. pallida. La caracterización molecular se realizó con el marcador AFLP. Se confirmó la presencia de las dos especies de nematodos en los cuatro departamentos. Los índices de diversidad Shannon y heterocigosidad esperada revelaron mayor diversidad genética en G. rostochiensis (H = 0.311, He = 0.301) que en G. pallida (H = 0.035, He = 0.223). Los métodos NJ, DAPC y PCA exhibieron una débil estructura entre las poblaciones de ambas especies de nematodos. Los resultados sugieren un patrón de dispersión desde Quetzaltenango hacia el resto del país, atribuido a la comercialización de semilla contaminada con nematodos. Se sugiere promover programas de socialización sobre los beneficios del uso de semilla certificada, además de constantes monitoreos moleculares para un diagnóstico certero de ambas especies de nematodos.

In Guatemala, potato crop production is affected by the nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallida. The ability of both species to form cysts complicates their control and causes an increase in their populations. In Guatemala, both species of nematodes have been reported by morphological identification; however, molecular confirmation has not been carried out. It is the first study to validate the presence of both nematode species by multiplex PCR and determine the diversity and genetic structure of the populations using molecular markers. Sampling was carried out in four pota-to-producing departments of the country. PCR identification was performed with the common primer ITS5 and the primers PITSr3 specific for G. rostochiensis and PITSp4 for G. pallida. We performed molecular characterization with the AFLP marker. We confirmed the presence of the two nematode species in the four departments. Shannon diversity and expected heterozygosity indices revealed higher genetic diversity in G. rostochiensis (H = 0.311, He = 0.301) than in G. pallida (H = 0.035, He = 0.223). The NJ, DAPC, and PCA methods exhibited weak structure among populations of both nematode species. The results suggest a dispersal pattern from Quetzaltenango to the rest of the country, attributed to the commer-cialization of seed contaminated with nematodes. We suggest promoting socialization programs on the benefits of using certified seeds and constant molecular monitoring for an accurate diagnosis of both species of nematodes.

Eficiencia de solubilización de fósforo de aislados nativos guatemaltecos de Pseudomonas fluorescens / Phosphorus solubilization efficiency of native Guatemalan isolates of Pseudomonas fluorescens

El fósforo (P) es un elemento esencial en la producción agrícola, pero debido a su compleja dinámica en el suelo, solo una pequeña cantidad es aprovechable para las plantas, ya que la mayoría del P se encuentra en formas insolubles, especialmente, en suelos Andisoles de origen volcánico. Los microorganismos con capacidad solubilizadora de fósforo (MSF) son una alternativa para transformar el P a formas solubles y aprovechables por las plantas; además de brindar múltiples beneficios ambientales. Este trabajo identificó y evaluó in vitro, aislados nativos de Pseudomonas fluorescens Mingula, obtenidos de regiones guatemaltecas con suelos Andisoles que limitan la producción agrícola por la alta fijación de P. Se realizaron cultivos in vitro de la bacteria en medio National Botanical Research Instituteís phosphate growth (NBRIP), con fosfato tricálcico Ca3(PO4)2 como fuente de P insoluble y se midió el índice de solubilización de fósforo (ISF). Un total de 35 aislados de P. fluorescensfueron identificados y confirmados por PCR específico. El análisis de relaciones genéticas con el marcador AFLP, mostró dos grupos: el grupo A incluyó a los aislados con ISF mayores a 1.75, mientras el grupo B incluyó a aquellos con ISF menor a 1.75. La comparación de ISF entre los aislados y departamentos, demostró diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p < .001), con el aislado Pf_33 como más eficiente. Debido al potencial de solubilización de los aislados nativos del grupo genético A (ISF > 1.75), estos se recomiendan para futuras investigaciones que determinen su respuesta a condiciones de campo y estrategias para el desarrollo de biofertilizantes.

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element in agricultural production, but due to its complex dynamics in the soil, only a tiny amount is usable by plants. This is because most P is in insoluble forms, especially in volcanic Andisol soils. Microorganisms with phosphorus solubilizing capacity (MSF) are an alternative for transforming P into soluble forms usable by plants and providing multiple environmental benefits. This research identified and evaluated in vitro native isolates of Pseudomonas fluorescens Mingula, obtained from Guatemalan regions with Andisol soils that limit agricultural production due to high P fixation. In vitro cultures of the bacteria were grown on the National Botanical Research Instituteís phosphate medium (NBRIP), with tricalcium phosphate Ca3(PO4)2 as a source of insoluble P, and We measured the phosphorus solubilization index (PSI). We identified and confirmed a total of 35 isolates of P. fluorescens by specific PCR. Using the AFLP marker, genetic relationship analysis showed two groups: group A included isolates with PSI greater than 1.75, while group B included those with FSI less than 1.75. Comparing of PSI between isolates and departments showed statistically significant dif-ferences (p < 0.001), respectively, with the Pf_33 isolate as the most efficient. Because of the high solubilization potential of the native isolates of genetic group A (FSI > 1.75), We recommend future research to determine their response to field conditions and strategies for biofertilizer development.

Comparison of six human anti-transglutaminase ELISA-tests in the diagnosis of celiac disease in the Saharawi population.

AIM: Celiac disease (CD) is an enteropathic disorder very prevalent in Saharawi people. Our aim was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of six human tissue transglutaminase (tTG) based ELISA tests in Saharawi CD patients. METHODS: Fifty-two CD patients and 23 controls were selected from the Saharawi refugee camps in Tinduf. CD patients were divided into two groups according to their anti-endomysium (EmA) status: 41 EmA positive and 11 EmA negative. Sera from patients and controls were tested for human tTG using six commercial ELISA kits. We used receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and areas under the curve to compare the diagnostic accuracies of the six assays. RESULTS: In general, there are differences in the sensitivity and specificity of the human tTG ELISA assays used. Diagnostic accuracy of tests was significantly improved by adjusting the cut-off thresholds according to ROC plot analysis; the correction of the cut-off with the employment of the ROC curve analysis modifies the decision limit in more than 50% in five of the six kits evaluated. CONCLUSION: Some of the human tTG ELISAs used in this study have a diagnostic accuracy similar to EmA determination for diagnosis of CD in Saharawi people. However, it is necessary to select the assay with a higher sensitivity and specificity, and recalculate the cut-off threshold using samples from the referral population.

Effect of Lepidium meyenii Walp. on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormone Levels in Healthy Adult Men: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

Background/Aims. Products of Lepidium meyenii Walp. (maca) are touted worldwide as an alimentary supplement to enhance fertility and restore hormonal balance. Enhancing properties of maca on semen parameters in animals were previously reported by various authors, but we present to the best of our knowledge the first double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial in men. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of maca on semen parameters and serum hormone levels in healthy adult men. Methods. A group of 20 volunteers aged 20-40 years was supplied by milled hypocotyl of maca or placebo (1.75 g/day) for 12 weeks. Negative controls of semen were compared to the samples after 6 and 12 weeks of maca administration; negative blood controls were compared to the samples after 12 weeks of treatment. Results. Sperm concentration and motility showed rising trends compared to placebo even though levels of hormones did not change significantly after 12 weeks of trial. Conclusion. Our results indicate that maca possesses fertility enhancing properties in men. As long as men prefer to use alimentary supplement to enhance fertility rather than prescribed medication or any medical intervention, it is worth continuing to assess its possible benefits.

Diversidad genética de materiales nativos de aguacate guatemalteco a través del marcador molecular AFLP / Genetic diversity of native Guatemalan avocado through AFLP molecular marker

El aguacate es un cultivo de consumo a nivel mundial, y según teorías recientes, se sugiere a la región de la Sierra Nevada, en California, como centro de origen y, a Guatemala, como uno de los principales centros de domesticación. Mediante caracterizaciones morfológicas se ha reportado una alta diversidad genética en el país, pero debido al comportamiento de polinización cruzada e hibridaciones interraciales, no se ha podido detallar el estado genético actual de la especie. Sin embargo, los marcadores moleculares son útiles para este tipo de estudios al enfocarse en las diferencias a nivel del ADN. Este estudio analizó la diversidad genética del aguacate nativo guatemalteco de siete poblaciones geográficas con el marcador molecular AFLP. Los datos de estructura poblacional mostraron un alto grado de diversidad a nivel de individuos (Ht = 0.1933, Hw = 0.1872) y baja diferenciación entre poblaciones (Hb = 0.0061). Los resultados sugieren una alta tasa de migración que influye directamente en el grado de mezcla genética de los materiales analizados. El bajo índice de estructura poblacional apunta a un alto flujo genético entre las poblaciones, por lo que la especie no presenta mayor riesgo ante la deriva genética, minimizándose el riesgo de pérdida de alelos por fijación. Se sugiere el resguardado del recurso fitogénetico total y no únicamente de materiales promisorios, evitando así el riesgo de erosión genética de la especie y garantizando la permanencia de la diversidad genética, la cual será la base de futuros programas de mejoramiento.

Avocado is one of the most widely consumed crops worldwide and according to new theories, the Sierra Nevada region in California is suggested as the center of origin and Guatemala as one of the main domestication cen-ters. Through morphological characterizations, a high genetic diversity has been reported in the country, but due to the behavior of cross pollination and interracial hybridizations, it has not been possible to detail the current genetic status of the species. Molecular markers are useful for this type of study by focusing on differences at DNA level. This study analyzed the genetic diversity of the native Guatemalan avocado from seven geographic populations with AFLP molecular marker. Population structure data showed a high degree of diversity at the individual level (Ht = 0.1933, Hw = 0.1872) and low differentiation between populations (Hb = 0.0061). The results suggest a high rate of migration that directly influences the degree of genetic mixing of the analyzed materials. The low index of population structure points to a high genetic flow between populations, so that the species does not present a greater risk due to genetic drift, minimizing the risk of loss of alleles due to fixation. The protection of the total genetic resource is suggested, and not only of promising materials, thus avoiding the risk of genetic erosion of the species and guaranteeing the permanence of genetic diversity, which will be the basis of future breeding programs.

Quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia: a prospective 1-year follow-up study in Spanish patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The natural history of functional dyspepsia is not well known. We prospectively assess the quality of life and severity of symptoms in a group of Spanish patients with functional dyspepsia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twelve consecutive patients with functional dyspepsia, according to Rome II criteria, were prospectively followed up for 1 year. All patients completed symptom (Dyspepsia Questionnaire and the Gastrointestinal Symptoms Rating Scale) and quality of life [the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) Index and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)] questionnaires every 3 months. Only free antacid consumption was permitted during the study period. RESULTS: The group was made up of 81 women and 31 men with a mean age of 45 +/- 17 years; 66% of patients were infected with Helicobacter pylori, and ulcer-like dyspepsia (53%) was the predominant subgroup. At baseline, quality of life scores were low (PGWB, 87.1 +/- 17.6 and GHQ, 20.6 +/- 11.8), but these values gradually improved during the year of follow-up (PGWB, 107.7 +/- 1.1 and GHQ, 8.9 +/- 0.4). Digestive symptoms also decreased. In the multivariate analysis, the anxiety score on the PGWB index (Wald, 5.2; P = 0.02) and smoking status (Wald, 4.3; P = 0.04) were predictors of end quality of life. At baseline, patients with a high level of anxiety had a very reduced quality of life, although their symptom scores were similar to other patients. CONCLUSION: Quality of life is reduced in patients with functional dyspepsia. Some improvement in quality of life together with a decrease in the severity of symptom scores was seen during the 1 year of follow-up. We believe that both the reassurance of negative endoscopy and the scheduling of visits to the doctor favourably influence the quality of life.

Etnomedicina en Los Altos de Chiapas, México / Ethnomedicine in The Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico

The objective of the this research was to register the current popular therapeutic use of medicinal plants in the Tzotzil indigenous population, in The Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. The data were collected from 59 informants (39% men, 61% women) between 20 and 86 years old, through a semi-structured questionnaire in the Tzotzil language. From the information collected, a total of 59 species of medicinal plants were registered, belonging to 55 genera and 37 botanical families. The families Asteraceae (with 6 species and UR=51), Lamiaceae (4, UR=37) and Lauraceae (4, UR=21), are were the most representative in the study area. The highest use value index (UVI) was reported for Matricaria chamomilla (UVI=0.42), Mentha sativa (UVI=0.36) and Ruta graveolens (UVI=0.31). According to the informant consensus factor (ICF), the main pathological categories treated are were of the reproductive system (ICF=0.80), respiratory infections (ICF=0.75) and diseases of the digestive system (ICF=0.70). The species reported and their diversity of uses satisfy the needs of families with socioeconomic deficiencies.

El objetivo de la esta investigación fue registrar el uso terapéutico popular actual de plantas medicinales en la población indígena Tzotzil, en Los Altos de Chiapas, México. Los datos fueron recolectados de 59 informantes (39% hombres, 61% mujeres) entre 20 y 86 años, a través de un cuestionario semiestructurado en el idioma Tzotzil. De la información recabada, se registraron un total de 59 especies de plantas medicinales, pertenecientes a 55 géneros y 37 familias botánicas. Las familias Asteraceae (con 6 especies y RU=51), Lamiaceae (4, RU=37) y Lauraceae (4, RU=21), son fueron las más representativas en el área de estudio. El índice de valor de uso más alto (IVU) se informó para Matricaria chamomilla (IVU=0.42), Mentha sativa (IVU=0.36) y Ruta graveolens (IVU=0.31). Según el factor de consenso del informante (FCI), las principales categorías patológicas tratadas son fueron del sistema reproductivo (ICF=0.80), las infecciones respiratorias (ICF=0.75) y las enfermedades del sistema digestivo (ICF=0.70). Las especies reportadas y su diversidad de usos satisfacen las necesidades de las familias con deficiencias socioeconómicas.