Sulfated Polysaccharide Extracted from the Green Algae Codium bernabei: Physicochemical Characterization and Antioxidant, Anticoagulant and Antitumor Activity.

Codium bernabei is a green alga that grows on Chilean coasts. The composition of its structural polysaccharides is still unknown. Hence, the aim of this work is to isolate and characterize the hot water extracted polysaccharide fractions. For this purpose, the water extracts were further precipitated in alcohol (TPs) and acid media (APs), respectively. Both fractions were characterized using different physicochemical techniques such as GC-MS, GPC, FTIR, TGA, and SEM. It is confirmed that the extracted fractions are mainly made of sulfated galactan unit, with a degree of sulfation of 19.3% (TPs) and 17.4% (ATs) and a protein content of 3.5% in APs and 15.6% in TPs. Other neutral sugars such as xylose, glucose, galactose, fucose, mannose, and arabinose were found in a molar ratio (0.05:0.6:1.0:0.02:0.14:0.11) for TPs and (0.05:0.31:1.0:0.03:0.1:0.13) for ATs. The molecular weight of the polysaccharide samples was lower than 20 kDa. Both polysaccharides were thermally stable (Tonset > 190 °C) and showed antioxidant activity according to the ABTS•+ and DPPH tests, where TPs fractions had higher scavenging activity (35%) compared to the APs fractions. The PT and APTTS assays were used to measure the anticoagulant activity of the polysaccharide fractions. In general, the PT activity of the TPs and APs was not different from normal plasma values. The exception was the TPs treatment at 1000 µg mL−1 concentration. The APTTS test revealed that clotting time for both polysaccharides was prolonged regarding normal values at 1000 µg mL−1. Finally, the antitumor test in colorectal carcinoma (HTC-116) cell line, breast cancer (MCF-7) and human leukemia (HL-60) cell lines showed the cytotoxic effect of TPs and APs. Those results suggest the potential biotechnological application of sulfate galactan polysaccharides isolated from a Chilean marine resource.

Emerging role of mitophagy in cardiovascular physiology and pathology.

Healthy mitochondrial function is imperative for most tissues, but especially those with a high energy demand. Robust evidence linking mitochondrial dysfunction with cardiovascular disease has demonstrated that mitochondrial activity is highly relevant to cardiac muscle performance. Mitochondrial homeostasis is maintained through coordination among the processes that comprise the so-called mitochondrial dynamics machinery. The most-studied elements of cardiac mitochondrial dynamics are mitochondrial fission and fusion, biogenesis and degradation. Selective autophagic removal of mitochondria (mitophagy) is essential for clearing away defective mitochondria but can lead to cell damage and death if not tightly controlled. In cardiovascular cells such as cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts, mitophagy is involved in metabolic activity, cell differentiation, apoptosis and other physiological processes related to major phenotypic changes. Modulation of mitophagy has detrimental and/or beneficial outcomes in various cardiovascular diseases, suggesting that a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial degradation in the heart could provide valuable clinical insights. Here, we discuss current evidence supporting the role of mitophagy in cardiac pathophysiology, with an emphasis on different research models and their interpretations; basic concepts related to this selective autophagy; and the most commonly used experimental approaches for studying this mechanism. Finally, we provide a comprehensive literature analysis on the role of mitophagy in heart failure, ischemia/reperfusion, diabetic cardiomyopathy and other cardiovascular diseases, as well as its potential biomedical applications.

Perfil epidemiológico de los pacientes con diagnóstico de sarcoma de partes blandas de 0 ­ 18 años en el Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín Bloom en el período de tiempo de enero del 2010 a diciembre del 2015 / Epidemiological profile of patients with a diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma aged 0 - 18 years at the Benjamin Bloom National Children's Hospital in the period of time from January 2010 to December 2015

Los sarcomas de partes blandas (SPB) son un grupo heterogéneo de tumores poco frecuentes constituidos por una amplia variedad de subtipos histológicos, que representan el 7 % de los tumores malignos. Sus tasas de curación han mejorado significativamente en los últimos 30 años gracias a grupos cooperativos internacionales que desarrollan enfoques de tratamiento multidisciplinarios y adaptados al riesgo. Aproximadamente el 70% de los pacientes con SPB localizado puede curarse ahora pero su resultado se correlaciona directamente con su grupo de riesgo según lo determinado por varios factores pronósticos como histología, tamaño tumoral, invasividad local y distante, sitio del tumor y edad del paciente. El Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín Bloom (HNNBB), es el único hospital nacional de referencia para la atención en el departamento de Oncología del cáncer pediátrico por esta razón el propósito de esta investigación ha sido describir el perfil epidemiológico de los niños con diagnóstico de sarcoma de partes blandas de 0 ­ 18 años en el HNNBB en un período de cinco años. Cuál es el perfil epidemiológico de los niños de 0 a 18 años con sarcomas departes blandas en el Hospital Nacional de niños Benjamín Bloom

La medicina rural a principios de siglo XX. A propósito de Martínez Saldise (1855-1937), socio de honor de la Sociedad de Pediatría de Madrid en 1927 / Rural medical practice at the beginning of the 20 th century. Martínez Saldise (1855-1937), honorary member of Paediatric Society of Madrid in 1927

INTRODUCCIÓN: En el centenario de la Sociedad de Pediatría de Madrid se quiere realizar un homenaje a la medicina rural de aquella época. Hay escasez documental sobre la historia de la medicina rural. El objetivo es describir el marco del ejercicio médico rural a finales del XIX y principios del XX en tanto que se desarrolla una revisión histórica biográfica de Manuel Martínez Saldise, que fue médico titular de Cazalegas (Toledo). En 1927 fue nombrado socio de honor por la Sociedad de Pediatría de Madrid. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Búsqueda en repositorios de prensa digitalizada, portales web de historia de la medicina, pubmed, IME, archivos locales de diputaciones y colegio de médicos. Se revisó el archivo familiar con la colaboración de uno de sus descendientes. RESULTADOS: La contratación de los médicos rurales se realizaba por los ayuntamientos, el sueldo en gran parte dependía además del ejercicio privado, de las «igualas». Los médicos titulares participaban en las epidemias, en medicina legal, en las medidas de higiene; también tenían conflictos con alcaldes, caciques, con colegas y con el intrusismo. Se hace un resumen de aspectos biográficos y laborales de Manuel Martínez Saldise.comentarios:Los médicos rurales se entregaban a la sociedad de su época, ante los problemas que surgían, denunciaban las carencias de la administración local, dedicaban esfuerzos a su familia y a los más desfavorecidos

INTRODUCTION: On the centenary of the foundation of the Paediatrics Society of Madrid, a tribute is presented to rural medical practice of that time, although there are few documents on the history of rural medicine. The main objective is to describe the context of the rural medical practice in the late 19th and beginning 20th century, while presenting a historical biographical review of Manuel Martínez Saldise, who was medical specialist from Cazalegas (Toledo). He was appointed an Honorary Member by the Paediatrics Society of Madrid in 1927. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was carried out in repositories of digitized media, web portals of history of medicine, PubMed, IME files of local councils and medical colleges. The family archives were reviewed with the collaboration of his descendants. RESULTS: The hiring of rural doctors was carried out by the municipalities, and the salary largely depended on private practice as well as "retainers". Specialist physicians took part in epidemics, legal medicine, and in hygiene measures. They also had disputes with mayors, chiefs, with colleagues and with protectionism. A summary of the biography and occupational activity of Manuel Martínez Saldise is presented.comments: Rural doctors were subjected to the society of their time, with the issues that arose, denouncing the shortcomings of the local administrations, dedicated efforts to their family and the most disadvantaged

[Rural medical practice at the beginning of the 20th century. Martínez Saldise (1855-1937), honorary member of Paediatric Society of Madrid in 1927]. / La medicina rural a principios de siglo XX. A propósito de Martínez Saldise (1855-1937), socio de honor de la Sociedad de Pediatría de Madrid en 1927.

INTRODUCTION: On the centenary of the foundation of the Paediatrics Society of Madrid, a tribute is presented to rural medical practice of that time, although there are few documents on the history of rural medicine. The main objective is to describe the context of the rural medical practice in the late 19th and beginning 20th century, while presenting a historical biographical review of Manuel Martínez Saldise, who was medical specialist from Cazalegas (Toledo). He was appointed an Honorary Member by the Paediatrics Society of Madrid in 1927. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was carried out in repositories of digitized media, web portals of history of medicine, PubMed, IME files of local councils and medical colleges. The family archives were reviewed with the collaboration of his descendants. RESULTS: The hiring of rural doctors was carried out by the municipalities, and the salary largely depended on private practice as well as "retainers". Specialist physicians took part in epidemics, legal medicine, and in hygiene measures. They also had disputes with mayors, chiefs, with colleagues and with protectionism. A summary of the biography and occupational activity of Manuel Martínez Saldise is presented. COMMENTS: Rural doctors were subjected to the society of their time, with the issues that arose, denouncing the shortcomings of the local administrations, dedicated efforts to their family and the most disadvantaged.