A distributed geometric rewiring model.

We propose a distributed rewiring model which starts with a planar graph embedded into the Euclidean space and then behaves as a distributed system, where each node is provided with a set of dynamic links. The proposed rewiring evolves through cycles, where nodes explore the network to identify possible shortcuts and rewire their dynamic links. The rewiring decisions are subject to Euclidean and geodesic distance constrains. The emerging networks were assessed through topological and robustness analyses. We found that the networks display a variety of characteristics observed in complex networks encompassing phenomena such as preferential attachment, the distinctive traits of small-world networks, the presence of community structures, and robustness against degradation process. We consider that our proposal can be applied in the design of those self-managed systems in which there is a limitation on communication resources that can be represented by the Euclidean distance and, however, the components themselves can deploy strategies to optimize the transport of information and develop tolerance before contingencies.

Decision-Making Algorithm with Geographic Mobility for Cognitive Radio.

The proposed novel algorithm named decision-making algorithm with geographic mobility (DMAGM) includes detailed analysis of decision-making for cognitive radio (CR) that considers a multivariable algorithm with geographic mobility (GM). Scarce research work considers the analysis of GM in depth, even though it plays a crucial role to improve communication performance. The DMAGM considerably reduces latency in order to accurately determine the best communication channels and includes GM analysis, which is not addressed in other algorithms found in the literature. The DMAGM was evaluated and validated by simulating a cognitive radio network that comprises a base station (BS), primary users (PUs), and CRs considering random arrivals and disappearance of mobile devices. The proposed algorithm exhibits better performance, through the reduction in latency and computational complexity, than other algorithms used for comparison using 200 channel tests per simulation. The DMAGM significantly reduces the decision-making process from 12.77% to 94.27% compared with ATDDiM, FAHP, AHP, and Dijkstra algorithms in terms of latency reduction. An improved version of the DMAGM is also proposed where feedback of the output is incorporated. This version is named feedback-decision-making algorithm with geographic mobility (FDMAGM), and it shows that a feedback system has the advantage of being able to continually adjust and adapt based on the feedback received. In addition, the feedback version helps to identify and correct problems, which can be beneficial in situations where the quality of communication is critical. Despite the fact that the FDMAGM may take longer than the DMAGM to calculate the best communication channel, constant feedback improves efficiency and effectiveness over time. Both the DMAGM and the FDMAGM improve performance in practical scenarios, the former in terms of latency and the latter in terms of accuracy and stability.

Impact on Glycemic Variation Caused by a Change in the Dietary Intake Sequence.

This work presents an analysis of the effect on glycemic variation caused by modifying the macronutrient intake sequence in a person without a diagnosis of diabetes. In this work, three types of nutritional studies were developed: (1) glucose variation under conditions of daily intake (food mixture); (2) glucose variation under conditions of daily intake modifying the macronutrient intake sequence; (3) glucose variation after a modification in the diet and macronutrient intake sequence. The focus of this research is to obtain preliminary results on the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention based on the modification of the sequence of macronutrient intake in a healthy person during 14-day periods. The results obtained corroborate the positive effect on the glucose of consuming vegetables, fiber, or proteins before carbohydrates, decreasing the peaks in the postprandial glucose curves (vegetables: 113-117 mg/dL; proteins: 107-112 mg/dL; carbohydrates: 115-125 mg/dL) and reducing the average levels of blood glucose concentrations (vegetables: 87-95 mg/dL; proteins: 82-99 mg/dL; carbohydrates: 90-98 mg/dL). The present work demonstrates the preliminary potential of the sequence in the macronutrient intake for the generation of alternatives of prevention and solution of chronic degenerative diseases, improving the management of glucose in the organism and permeating in the reduction of weight and the state of health of the individuals.

Effect of Induced Mechanical Leaf Damage on the Yield and Content of Bioactive Molecules in Leaves and Seeds of Tepary Beans (Phaseolus acutifolius).

Growing interest has recently been shown in Tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius) because they contain lectins and protease inhibitors that have been shown to have a specific cytotoxic effect on human cancer cells. Bean lectins offer protection against biotic and abiotic stress factors, so it is possible that mechanical foliar damage may increase lectin production. This study evaluates the effect of mechanical stress (foliar damage) on lectin and protease inhibitor content in Tepary beans. Seed yield was also analyzed, and phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (DPPH and TEAC) were determined in the leaves. An experimental design with random blocks of three treatments (T1: control group, T2: 50% mechanical foliar damage and T3: 80% mechanical foliar damage) was carried out. Mechanical foliar damage increased the amount of lectin binding units (LBUs) fivefold (from 1280 to 6542 LBUs in T3) but did not affect units of enzymatic activity (UEA) against trypsin (from 60.8 to 51 UEA in T3). Results show that controlled mechanical foliar damage could be used to induce overexpression of lectins in the seeds of Tepary beans. Mechanical foliar damage reduced seed production (-14.6%: from 1890 g to 1615 g in T3) and did not significantly increase phenolic compound levels in leaves.

Hiperplasia Adenomatoide en Reborde Alveolar Maxilar: Una Presentación Inusual

RESUMEN: La hiperplasia adenomatoide (HA) se considera una patología no neoplásica de etiología desconocida asociada principalmente a trauma como principal factor causal, con localización frecuente en paladar duro y blando. El presente caso muestra el primer caso de HA en reborde alveolar asociado a prótesis removible mal adaptada. Hombre de 81 años con diabetes mellitus y HTA controlada presentaba un aumento de volumen nodular en reborde alveolar maxilar del color de la mucosa, de consistencia firme y márgenes definidos que medía 1,5 x 0,7 cm de diámetro, asintomático y asociada a falta de diente 1.3 protésico reportando 6 años de evolución. Se realizó biopsia excisional y estudio histopatológic o con hiperplasia de acinos glandulares. El 80 % de los casos se observa en paladar seguida de la mucosa oral, lengua y zona retromolar, pero sin reportes en encía o reborde alveolar. El factor causal mayormente asociado es el trauma crónico principalmente asociado a prótesis mal adaptadas, aunque existen estudios de un cromosoma aberrante con un rol desconocido tanto en su patogénesis como en su posible potencial maligno. En el caso actual, la lesión se asocia fuertemente a prótesis removible mal adaptada sugiriendo una lesión de aspecto reactivo. Por lo tanto, la HA se debe incluir como diagnóstico diferencial tanto a nivel palatino como en otras localizaciones incluyendo reborde alveolar. Además, se debe considerar cuando existe un factor etiológico traumático como prótesis removibles mal adaptadas, siendo necesario su confirmación mediante estudio histopatológico especialmente por su similitud con otras patologías.

ABSTRACT: Adenomatoid hyperplasia (AH) is considered a non-neoplastic pathology of unknown etiology but mainly associated with trauma as the main causal factor, with frequent localization on hard and soft palate. The present case shows the first case of AH on the alveolar ridge associated with a poorly adapted removable prosthesis. An 81-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension controlled presents a nodular tumor in the maxillary alveolar ridge of the color of the mucosa, with a firm consistency and defined edges measuring 1.5 x 0.7 cm in diameter, asymptomatic and associated with a lack of a 1.3 prosthetic tooth reporting 6 years of evolution. Excisional biopsy and histopathological study were performed with glandular acini hyperplasia. The AH is observed in 80 % of cases on the palate followed by the oral mucosa, tongue and retromolar area, but without reports on the gingiva or alveolar ridge. The most associated causal factor is chronic trauma, mainly associated with poorly adapted prostheses, although there are studies of an aberrant chromosome with an unknown role both in his pathogenesis and possible malignant potential. In the current case, the lesion is strongly associated with a poorly adapted removable prosthesis, suggesting a lesion with a reactive appearance. Therefore, AH should be included as a differential diagnosis both at the palatal level and in other locations including the alveolar ridge. In addition, it should be considered when there is a traumatic etiological factor such as poorly adapted removable prostheses, It's confirmation by histopathological study being necessary, especially due to its similarity with other pathologies.

Wavelet-based semblance analysis to determine muscle synergy for different handstand postures of Chilean circus athletes.

The handstand is an uncommon posture, highly demanding in terms of muscle and joint stability, used in sporting and artistic practices in a variety of disciplines. Despite its becoming increasingly widespread, there is no specific way to perform a handstand, and the neuromuscular organizational mechanisms involved are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the muscle synergy of four handstand postures through a semblance analysis based on wavelets of electromyographic signals in the upper limbs of experienced circus performers between 18- and 35-year old. The results show that there is a large difference in positive and negative correlations depending on the posture, which suggests that the more asymmetrical the position of the lower limbs, the greater the number of strategies to maintain the posture. Although it is not a statistically significant data, it is observed that the posture 3 in particular, possesses the greatest number of positive correlations, which suggests it has the greatest synergy.

Molecular Correlation between Larval, Deutonymph and Adult Stages of the Water Mite Arrenurus (Micruracarus) Novus.

The systematics of many groups of organisms has been based on the adult stage. Morphological transformations that occur during development from the embryonic to the adult stage make it difficult (or impossible) to identify a juvenile (larval) stage in some species. Hydrachnidia (Acari, Actinotrichida, which inhabit mainly continental waters) are characterized by three main active stages-larval, deutonymph and adult-with intermediate dormant stages. Deutonymphs and adults may be identified through diagnostic morphological characters. Larvae that have not been tracked directly from a gravid female are difficult to identify to the species level. In this work, we compared the morphology of five water mite larvae and obtained the molecular sequences of that found on a pupa of the common mosquito Culex (Culex) pipiens with the sequences of 51 adults diagnosed as Arrenurus species and identified the undescribed larvae as Arrenurus (Micruracarus) novus. Further corroborating this finding, adult A. novus was found thriving in the same mosquito habitat. We established the identity of adult and deutonymph A. novus by morphology and by correlating COI and cytB sequences of the water mites at the larval, deutonymph and adult (both male and female) life stages in a particular case of 'reverse taxonomy'. In addition, we constructed the Arrenuridae phylogeny based on mitochondrial DNA, which supports the idea that three Arrenurus subgenera are 'natural': Arrenurus, Megaluracarus and Micruracarus, and the somewhat arbitrary distinction of the species assigned to the subgenus Truncaturus.

Fabrication of Microbolometer Arrays Based on Polymorphous Silicon-Germanium.

This work reports the development of arrays of infrared sensors (microbolometers) using a hydrogenated polymorphous silicon-germanium alloy (pm-SixGe1-x:H). Basically, polymorphous semiconductors consist of an amorphous semiconductor matrix with embedded nanocrystals of about 2-3 nm. The pm-SixGe1-x:H alloy studied has a high temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of 4.08%/K and conductivity of 1.5 × 10-5 S∙cm-1. Deposition of thermosensing film was made by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at 200 °C, while the area of the devices is 50 × 50 µm2 with a fill factor of 81%. Finally, an array of 19 × 20 microbolometers was packaged for electrical characterization. Voltage responsivity values were obtained in the range of 4 × 104 V/W and detectivity around 2 × 107 cm∙Hz1/2/W with a polarization current of 70 µA at a chopper frequency of 30 Hz. A minimum value of 2 × 10-10 W/Hz1/2 noise equivalent power was obtained at room temperature. In addition, it was found that all the tested devices responded to incident infrared radiation, proving that the structure and mechanical stability are excellent.

Quantum Dot Labelling of Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) Lectins by Microfluidics.

Lectins are bioactive proteins with the ability to recognize cell membrane carbohydrates in a specific way. Diverse plant lectins have shown diagnostic and therapeutic potential against cancer, and their cytotoxicity against transformed cells is mediated through the induction of apoptosis. Previous works have determined the cytotoxic activity of a Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) lectin fraction (TBLF) and its anti-tumorigenic effect on colon cancer. In this work, lectins from the TBLF were additionally purified by ionic-exchange chromatography. Two peaks with agglutination activity were obtained: one of them was named TBL-IE2 and showed a single protein band in two-dimensional electrophoresis; this one was thus selected for coupling to quantum dot (QD) nanoparticles by microfluidics (TBL-IE2-QD). The microfluidic method led to low sample usage, and resulted in homogeneous complexes, whose visualization was achieved using multiphoton and transmission electron microscopy. The average particle size (380 nm) and the average zeta potential (-18.51 mV) were determined. The cytotoxicity of the TBL-IE2 and TBL-IE2-QD was assayed on HT-29 colon cancer cells, showing no differences between them (p ≤ 0.05), where the LC50 values were 1.0 × 10-3 and 1.7 × 10-3 mg/mL, respectively. The microfluidic technique allowed control of the coupling between the QD and the protein, substantially improving the labelling process, providing a rapid and efficient method that enabled the traceability of lectins. Future studies will focus on the potential use of the QD-labelled lectin to recognize tumor tissues.

Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) Lectins Induce Apoptosis and Cell Arrest in G0/G1 by P53(Ser46) Phosphorylation in Colon Cancer Cells.

A Tepary bean lectin fraction (TBLF) has been studied because it exhibits differential cytotoxic and anticancer effects on colon cancer. The present work focuses on the evaluation of the apoptotic mechanism of action on colon cancer cells. Initially, lethal concentrations (LC50) were obtained for the three studied cell lines (HT-29, RKO and SW-480). HT-29 showed the highest LC50, 10 and 100 times higher than that of RKO and SW-480 cells, respectively. Apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry, where HT-29 cells showed the highest levels of early and total apoptosis, caspases activity was confirmed and necrosis was discarded. The effect on cell cycle arrest was shown in the G0/G1 phase. Specific apoptosis-related gene expression was determined, where an increase in p53 and a decrease in Bcl-2 were observed. Expression of p53 gene showed the maximum level at 8 h with an important decrease at 12 and 24 h, also the phosphorylated p53(ser46) increased at 8 h. Our results show that TBLF induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells by p-p53(ser46) involvement. Further studies will focus on studying the specific signal transduction pathway.

Serorreacción y prevalencia de sífilis en donantes de un banco de sangre de Barranquilla, Colombia / Seroreactivity and prevalence of syphilis in donors at a blood bank in Barranquilla, Colombia

Resumen Introducción. La sífilis es una enfermedad de interés en salud pública por sus elevadas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad. Objetivo. Determinar la serorreacción y la seroprevalencia de sífilis según las variables sociodemográficas de los donantes de un banco de sangre del distrito de Barranquilla, Colombia, durante 2015 y 2016. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal basado en los resultados de las pruebas treponémicas y no treponémicas. Se analizaron las variables sociodemográficas de la población estudiada y se hizo un análisis univariado en el que se determinaron las frecuencias absoluta y relativa de cada una de las variables categóricas. Se determinó la serorreacción a Treponema pallidum y la prevalencia de la infección activa. Se utilizó la prueba de ji al cuadrado de Pearson para evaluar las diferencias entre las proporciones. Resultados. Se encontró una serorreacción de 1,86 % para la infección previa con T. pallidum y una prevalencia de 0,93 % para la infección activa, las cuales fueron más altas en hombres adultos y en adultos mayores, viudos, desempleados y personas residentes en otros municipios del departamento de Atlántico diferentes de Barranquilla y su área metropolitana. Se encontró una asociación significativa entre la sífilis y las variables de sexo y ocupación. Conclusión. Se registró una serorreacción elevada a T. pallidum en donantes de sangre, comparada con el promedio nacional. Se encontró asociación entre la sífilis, y las variables sociodemográficas de sexo y ocupación, principalmente.

Abstract Introduction: Syphilis is a public health concern given its high impact on morbidity and mortality. Objective: We aimed to determine the association of syphilis seroreactivity and seroprevalence with sociodemographic variables of donors at a blood bank in the district of Barranquilla, Colombia, during 2015 and 2016. Materials and methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study based on the results of the treponemal and nontreponemal tests and the sociodemographic variables of the study population. We performed a univariate analysis to determine the absolute and relative frequencies for each categorical variable. We determined the seroreactivity against Treponema pallidum and the prevalence of active syphilis infection, and we used Pearson's chi-square test to evaluate the differences between the proportions. Results: We found a seroreactivity of 1.86% in individuals with previous T. pallidum infection, and a prevalence of 0.93% in those with active T. pallidum infection. These values were higher in adult men and older adults, widowers, the unemployed, and people living in municipalities of the Department of Atlántico other than Barranquilla and its metropolitan area. The incidence of syphilis infection showed a significant association with sex and occupation. Conclusion: In comparison to the national average, syphilis seroreactivity was high among blood donors. There was an association between syphilis infection incidence and sociodemographic variables such as sex and occupation.

Heat Transfer Coefficients Analysis in a Helical Double-Pipe Evaporator: Nusselt Number Correlations through Artificial Neural Networks.

In this study, two empirical correlations of the Nusselt number, based on two artificial neural networks (ANN), were developed to determine the heat transfer coefficients for each section of a vertical helical double-pipe evaporator with water as the working fluid. Each ANN was obtained using an experimental database of 1109 values obtained from an evaporator coupled to an absorption heat transformer with energy recycling. The Nusselt number in the annular section was estimated based on the modified Wilson plot method solved by an ANN. This model included the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers as input variables and three neurons in their hidden layer. The Nusselt number in the inner section was estimated based on the Rohsenow equation, solved by an ANN. This ANN model included the numbers of the Prandtl and Jackob liquids as input variables and one neuron in their hidden layer. The coefficients of determination were R 2 > 0.99 for both models. Both ANN models satisfied the dimensionless condition of the Nusselt number. The Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm was chosen to determine the optimum values of the weights and biases. The transfer functions used for the learning process were the hyperbolic tangent sigmoid in the hidden layer and the linear function in the output layer. The Nusselt numbers, determined by the ANNs, proved adequate to predict the values of the heat transfer coefficients of a vertical helical double-pipe evaporator that considered biphasic flow with an accuracy of ±0.2 for the annular Nusselt and ±4 for the inner Nusselt.

Actuación de enfermería en la prevención y control del riesgo reproductivo preconcepcional / Nursing Performance in Prevention and Control of Preconception Reproductive Health

RESUMEN Introducción: La prevención de la enfermedad y la muerte durante el proceso de reproducción es uno de los pilares fundamentales para el desarrollo de la salud reproductiva, donde el rol de la enfermera juega un papel primordial en el empoderamiento del autocuidado de la mujer en edad fértil. Objetivo: Sistematizar la actuación de enfermería en la prevención y control del riesgo reproductivo preconcepcional. Métodos: Revisión bibliográfica sistemática para realizar análisis crítico reflexivo del contenido de artículos originales y de revisión publicados en español entre 2005 y 2015. La búsqueda fue realizada en las bases de datos Medline EMBASE, Current Contents, Science Citation Index, de enero a marzo de 2016, las palabras clave utilizadas fueron "riesgo preconcepcional", "práctica de enfermería", y "atención de enfermería al riesgo preconcepcional". Tras la identificación de los estudios pre-seleccionados se llevó a cabo la lectura de los títulos, resumen y palabras clave, comprobando la pertinencia con el estudio. Conclusión: Un adecuado conocimiento de la mujer en edad fértil sobre el riesgo preconcepcional permite mantener un estado de salud óptimo para asumir un embarazo con resultados finales satisfactorios. El déficit de conocimientos en la mujer sobre padecimientos o hábitos de riesgo para su salud y para asumir un embarazo satisfactorio, a ello se suma insuficiente trabajo de enfermería en la prevención del riesgo preconcepcional(AU)

ABSTRACT Introduction: Preventing disease and death during the reproduction process is one of the fundamental pillars for the development of reproductive health, in which the nurse plays a key role in empowering the self-care of women at childbearing age. Objective: To systematize the nursing action in prevention and control of preconception reproductive risk. Methods: Systematic bibliographic review to carry out a reflexive critical analysis of the content of original and review articles published in Spanish between 2005 and 2015. The search was carried out in the databases Medline EMBASE, Current Contents, and Science Citation Index, from January to March 2016; the key words used were riesgo preconcepcional [preconception risk], práctica de enfermería [nursing practice], y atención de enfermería al riesgo preconcepcional [nursing care over preconception risk]. After the identification of the pre-selected studies, the titles, summary and key words were read, verifying the relevance with the study. Conclusion: An adequate knowledge of women of childbearing age on preconception risk allows maintaining an optimal state of health to assume a pregnancy with satisfactory final results. The lack of knowledge in women about conditions or habits of risk for their health and for assuming a satisfactory pregnancy, to which insufficient nursing work is added in the prevention of preconception risk(AU)

Capillary leak syndrome as a complication of antibody-mediated rejection treatment: a case report.

We report a case of capillary leak that developed during treatment of antibody-mediated rejection in a kidney transplant recipient. A 53-year-old female transplant recipient experienced an increase in serum creatinine from 1.1 to 1.8 mg/dL. Antibody-mediated rejection was diagnosed by graft biopsy. She was treated with five plasmapheresis sessions (on alternate days with albumin replacement), five doses of immunoglobulin (5 g/dose at 100 mg/kg), a single dose of rituximab (500 mg), and four doses of bortezomib on days 1, 4, 7, and 10 (1.72 mg/dose at 1.3 mg/m2 body surface area). During treatment, edema, slight diarrhea, pancytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, peripheral neuropathy, and postural hypotension were noted. Despite control of liquids, she presented with edema progressing to an increase of more than 10 kg body weight. Prerenal acute graft dysfunction associated with hypotension was diagnosed on day 12, heart failure or other infectious complications being discounted. On day 13, daily hemodialysis was prescribed, and a stable volume status was reached after five hemodialysis sessions. On day 20, the patient recovered diuresis and the edema and diarrhea abated, but she remained on chronic hemodialysis. After excluding other causes of distributive shock, the diagnosis of capillary leak syndrome was based on the presence of hypotension, generalized edema, and hypoalbuminemia in the absence of significant proteinuria. The concomitant presence of diarrhea, peripheral neuropathy, and pancytopenia, suggest a possible causal role for bortezomib. Awareness by clinicians of capillary leak syndrome associated with bortezomib-based treatment of AMR is paramount, despite its rarity.

Effects of intragastrically-administered Tepary bean lectins on digestive and immune organs: Preclinical evaluation.

Previous work showed that Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius) lectins exhibit differential cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines by apoptosis induction. In vivo studies using a Tepary bean lectin fraction (TBLF, 50 mg/kg of body weight) after colon cancer induction in rats showed that TBLF inhibited early precancerous lesions without systemic toxicity however, loss of body weight gain and activation of immune cells were observed. In order to know more about the possible adverse effects, we evaluated the administration of TBLF on digestive and immune organs. Sprague Dawley rats were administered TBLF for six weeks and allowed to recover for two weeks. Immune activation was observed through an increased lymphocyte-granulocyte ratio, an increased number of lymphoid follicles in intestinal Peyer's patches and a slight expansion of the splenic white pulp. Atrophy was observed in small intestine villi and crypt foci of the colon without normalization after the recovery period. Pancreas histopathology showed hypertrophy after the six-week administration period, particularly vacuolation and trabecular widening; but after the two-week recovery period atrophy was observed, suggesting a partial compensatory type process. Our results show that TBLF activates the immune system and affects digestive organs through direct interaction with intestinal epithelium, and indirectly by producing pancreatic hyperfunction. Further work will focus in longer recuperation periods after TBLF treatment.

Distributed rewiring model for complex networking: The effect of local rewiring rules on final structural properties.

The study of complex networks has become an important subject over the last decades. It has been shown that these structures have special features, such as their diameter, or their average path length, which in turn are the explanation of some functional properties in a system such as its fault tolerance, its fragility before attacks, or the ability to support routing procedures. In the present work, we study some of the forces that help a network to evolve to the point where structural properties are settled. Although our work is mainly focused on the possibility of applying our ideas to Information and Communication Technologies systems, we consider that our results may contribute to understanding different scenarios where complex networks have become an important modeling tool. Using a discrete event simulator, we get each node to discover the shortcuts that may connect it with regions away from its local environment. Based on this partial knowledge, each node can rewire some of its links, which allows modifying the topology of the entire underlying graph to achieve new structural properties. We proposed a distributed rewiring model that creates networks with features similar to those found in complex networks. Although each node acts in a distributed way and seeking to reduce only the trajectories of its packets, we observed a decrease of diameter and an increase in clustering coefficient in the global structure compared to the initial graph. Furthermore, we can find different final structures depending on slight changes in the local rewiring rules.

Phaseolus acutifolius Lectin Fractions Exhibit Apoptotic Effects on Colon Cancer: Preclinical Studies Using Dimethilhydrazine or Azoxi-Methane as Cancer Induction Agents.

Phaseolus acutifolius (Tepary bean) lectins have been studied as cytotoxic molecules on colon cancer cells. The toxicological profile of a Tepary bean lectin fraction (TBLF) has shown low toxicity in experimental animals; exhibiting anti-nutritional effects such as a reduction in body weight gain and a decrease in food intake when using a dose of 50 mg/kg on alternate days for six weeks. Taking this information into account, the focus of this work was to evaluate the effect of the TBLF on colon cancer using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) or azoxy-methane/dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) as colon cancer inductors. Rats were treated with DMH or AOM/DSS and then administered with TBFL (50 mg/kg) for six weeks. TBLF significantly decreased early tumorigenesis triggered by DMH by 70%, but without any evidence of an apoptotic effect. In an independent experiment, AOM/DSS was used to generate aberrant cryptic foci, which decreased by 50% after TBLF treatment. TBLF exhibited antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects related to a decrease of the signal transduction pathway protein Akt in its activated form and an increase of caspase 3 activity, but not to p53 activation. Further studies will deepen our knowledge of specific apoptosis pathways and cellular stress processes such as oxidative damage.

Plant Lectins as Medical Tools against Digestive System Cancers.

Digestive system cancers-those of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon-rectum, liver, and pancreas-are highly related to genetics and lifestyle. Most are considered highly mortal due to the frequency of late diagnosis, usually in advanced stages, caused by the absence of symptoms or masked by other pathologies. Different tools are being investigated in the search of a more precise diagnosis and treatment. Plant lectins have been studied because of their ability to recognize and bind to carbohydrates, exerting a variety of biological activities on animal cells, including anticancer activities. The present report integrates existing information on the activity of plant lectins on various types of digestive system cancers, and surveys the current state of research into their properties for diagnosis and selective treatment.

El riesgo preconcepcional y su vínculo con la salud materna / The preconception risk and its link with maternal health

Introducción: la prevención de la enfermedad y la muerte durante el proceso de reproducción es uno de los pilares fundamentales para el desarrollo de la salud reproductiva, donde el riesgo preconcepcional tiene importancia medular por su relación con la mortalidad materna e infantil. Objetivo: mostrar los principales hallazgos sobre la relación entre el riego preconcepcional y la mortalidad materna e infantil. Métodos: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica entre los años 2010 - 2015 a publicaciones relacionadas con el tema objeto de estudio en las siguientes bases de datos: Medline, EMBASE, Current Contents, Science Citation Index, todas en español. Conclusiones: un adecuado control y manejo del riesgo preconcepcional permite determinar y evaluar la morbilidad de cada paciente y su estado de salud para asumir un embarazo con resultados satisfactorios. Se evidencia la relación existente entre el riesgo preconcepcional en mujeres en edad fértil y la presencia de complicaciones de diferente tipo en la madre y el niño, muchas de las cuales ocasionan la pérdida de uno de los dos. Se enfatiza en la necesidad de fortalecer todas las acciones de salud de carácter preventivo que ayuden a la mujer a enfrentar la maternidad en mejores condiciones(AU)

Introduction: Prevention of illness and death during reproduction is one of the fundamental pillars for the development of reproductive health, where the preconception risk has central importance due to its relation to maternal and infant mortality. Objective: Show the main findings on the relationship between preconception risk and maternal and infant mortality. Methods: A literature review was conducted between the years 2010 - 2015 to publications related to the topic under study in the following databases: Medline, EMBASE, Current Contents, Science Citation Index, all in Spanish. Conclusions: Proper preconceptional control and risk management allow to determine and evaluate the morbidity of each patient and their health to take a pregnancy with satisfactory results. The relationship between preconception risks in women of childbearing age and the presence of different types of complications in mother and child is evidenced, many of which cause the loss of one of them. The need to strengthen all actions of preventive health to help women cope with motherhood in better condition is emphasized(AU)

Caracterización de mujeres con riesgo preconcepcional en un consultorio médico / Characterization of women with preconception risk in a family doctor's office

Introducción: la atención oportuna y planificada del riesgo preconcepcional puede evitar la morbilidad o mortalidad, tanto en las madres, como en el niño. Objetivos: caracterizar las mujeres en edad fértil con riesgo preconcepcional del consultorio 9, Policlínico Tomás Romay, municipio de Artemisa. Método: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal con una muestra de 95 mujeres con RPC, seleccionadas de forma intencional. La información se recolectó mediante un cuestionario diseñado al efecto que clasificó a las mujeres con RPC. Se aplicaron técnicas de estadística descriptiva. Resultados: las edades de las mujeres donde las patologías crónicas son más frecuentes fueron en las mayores de 35 años (41 por ciento), el 62 por ciento eran normo peso y 34 por ciento tenía noveno grado. Un 34 por ciento eran casadas, predominaron las amas de casa con dependencia económica. Prevaleció como antecedente obstétrico la interrupción de embarazos. La hipertensión arterial y el asma fueron las patologías más frecuentes. Se encontró que no hay adecuado control del riesgo preconcepcional en estas mujeres. Conclusiones: se requiere incrementar las acciones de control del riesgo preconcepcional, fundamentalmente en las mujeres de más de 30 años, dado el proceso de envejecimiento que tiene la fecundad cubana y la influencia que hay entre este, las complicaciones durante el embarazo y la mortalidad materna. La presencia del aborto y el no uso de anticonceptivos en estas mujeres mostraron la necesidad de incrementar las acciones de planificación familiar para mejorar su salud sexual y reproductiva(AU)