Antifungal In Vitro Activity of Phoradendron sp. Extracts on Fungal Isolates from Tomato Crop.

Synthetic chemicals are mainly used for the control of fungal diseases in tomato, causing the phytopathogens to generate resistance to the chemical active ingredient, with a consequent risk to human health and the environment. The use of plant extracts is an option for the control of these diseases, which is why the main objective of this research was to study an alternative biocontrol strategy for the management of plant diseases caused by fungi through obtaining polyphenol extracts from mistletoe plants growing on three different tree species-mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), cedar (Cedrus), and oak (Quercus), which contain flavones, anthocyanins, and luteolin. The overall chemical structure of the obtained plant extracts was investigated by RP-HPLC-ESI-MS liquid chromatography. The antifungal effect of these extracts was examined. The target phytopathogenic fungi were isolated from tomato plantations located in Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The microorganisms were characterized by classical and molecular methods and identified as Alternaria alternata, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium sp., and Rhizoctonia solani.

Anatomical and Clinical Factors Associated With Valvulopathy and Aortopathy in Mexican Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valves.

The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is associated with significant aortic valve dysfunction. We aimed to study Mexican patients with BAV to assess phenotypic expressions of BAV, and associations of valvulopathy and aortopathy and their predictors. A cross-sectional, retrospective study was designed. The patients were divided according to (1) normally or minimally dysfunctional BAV, (2) predominant aortic regurgitation (AR), and (3) predominant aortic stenosis (AS). A total of 189 patients were included with a high prevalence of males (68%). The overall median age was 42 (23 to 52) years. The distribution of fused BAV phenotypes was right-left fusion (77%), right noncoronary fusion (17%) and left noncoronary fusion (6%). AS-predominant group was the oldest with a high prevalence of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and raphe. In multivariable analysis T2DM (odds ratio [OR] 10.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1 to 52], p <0.01) and presence of raphe (OR 2.58 [95% CI 1.02 to 6.52], p = 0.04) were independently associated with AS. The AR-predominant group was composed mostly of males with significantly fewer cardiovascular risk factors. Male gender (OR 2.84 [95%CI 121 to 6.68], p = 0.01) and aortic dilatation (OR 3.58 [95% CI 1.73 to 7.39], p <0.01) were associated with AR-predominance in multivariable analysis. Aortic dilatation was associated with age (OR 1.03 [95% CI 1.008 to 1.05], p <0.01) and AR (OR 4.31 [95% CI 2.05 to 9.06], p <0.01). Independent factors associated with the root phenotype were male gender (OR 12.4 [95% CI 1.6 to 95], p <0.01) and AR (OR 5.25 [95% CI 2.18 to 12.6], p <0.01).In conclusion, in a mestizo population, the distribution of BAV-fused phenotypes was similar to European and North American populations, the presence of raphe and T2DM were independently associated with AS-predominance, and male gender and aortic dilatation were independently associated with AR-predominance.

Intravenous tocilizumab in the management of rheumatoid arthritis: Clinical practice findings from a 6-month international, multicentre, observational study in Central America and the Caribbean / El tocilizumab intravenoso en el tratamiento de la artritis reumatoide: resultados de la práctica clínica de un estudio internacional, multicéntrico y observacional de 6 meses de duración en América Central y el Caribe

ABSTRACT Tocilizumab (TCZ), an 1interieukin-6 receptor-α Inhibitor, is Indicated in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis with inadequate response to disease modifying drugs. ACT UP is a multinational project co11ecting information from severa1 post-marketing TCZ studies. Aim: To determine the proportion of patients in the routine clinical care setting receiving intravenous TCZ after 6 months treatment. Identification of TCZ treatment patterns, efficacy, and safety were also recorded. Method: This prospective non-interventional 6-month study, collected real-world information from 169 Central American and Caribbean patients. No interventional procedures or additional visits outside routine clinical care practice were performed. Statistical analysis was essentially descriptive. Results: Adherence rate was 74.0%, with 97% of patients receiving TCZ as first biological therapy line and there were no deviations from the local label. Almost 85% of patients started with combination therapy, and the majority remained under this scheme throughout the study. A significant decrease in disease activity assessments and acute phase reactants values were detected during TCZ treatment. The percentage of patients that achieved improvement according to the different levels of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) increased during the study, and relevant enhancements in quality of life were also accomplished. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in 35 patients, with metabolic and nutritional disorders being the most common. Serious AEs were reported in 3% of patients, and special interest AEs occurred in 6 patients. Conclusion: Treatment adherence was mainly determined by follow-up and compliance with the administration schedule. Efficacy analysis showed better results than those reported in international literature. The incidence of AEs was also lower than in previously published data.

RESUMEN El tocilizumab (TCZ) está indicado en la artritis reumatoide moderada a severa, principalmente en respuestas inadecuadas a fármacos convencionales. ACT UP es un proyecto multinacional que recopila información relacionada con varios estudios de poscomercialización. Objetivo: Determinar la proporción de pacientes en la atención clínica de rutina que continúan en tratamiento con TCZ intravenoso después de 6 meses. Se llevó a cabo la identificación de patrones de administración, eficacia y seguridad. Método: Este estudio observacional prospectivo recopiló información de la vida real de 169 pacientes de América Central y el Caribe. No se hicieron intervenciones ni visitas adicionales fuera de la práctica clínica habitual. El análisis estadístico fue esencialmente descriptivo. Resultados: La tasa de adherencia al tratamiento fue del 74,0%, el 97% de los pacientes reci bieron TCZ como primera línea biológica y no existieron desviaciones en las indicaciones de administración según el inserto local. Aproximadamente el 85% de los pacientes inició TCZ como terapia combinada, y la mayoría permaneció bajo este esquema. Se evidenció una dis minución en la actividad de la enfermedad y un aumento en el porcentaje de pacientes que lograron respuesta según los diferentes grados del Colegio Americano de Reumatología. En 35 pacientes se presentaron eventos adversos (EA), siendo los relacionados con metabolismo y nutrición los más comunes. Se informaron EA graves en el 3% de los pacientes y de interés especial en 6 casos. Conclusión: El seguimiento de los pacientes y el cumplimiento del programa fueron los prin cipales determinantes en la adherencia. El análisis de eficacia mostró mejores resultados que los reportados previamente y la incidencia de EA fue menor que en otros estudios.

Ultrasonido pulmonar en medicina, su utilidad en la práctica clínica / Pulmonary Ultrasound in Medicine, its Usefulness in Clinical Practice

Resumen: El ultrasonido pulmonar ha tomado protagonismo en la evaluación de los órganos torácicos y su patología. Es de gran utilidad en la evaluación del paciente hospitalizado o de urgencias para monitoreo de evolución o diagnóstico rápido, así como guía de procedimientos diagnósticos y terapéuticos. Sus múltiples ventajas han desplazado a otros estudios de gabinete, ya que puede evitar el traslado de pacientes, es inocuo, accesible y rápido. En este artículo revisaremos conceptos básicos de ultrasonografía pulmonar y su uso en el diagnóstico en patologías.

Abstract: Lung ultrasound has become increasingly important in the evaluation of the thorax and its pathologies. It has proved to be very useful in the evaluation of hospitalized patients, allowing doctors to evaluate and make quick decisions, as well as providing guidance for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Ultrasound has many advantages over other studies since it can avoid transferring patients, and it is harmless, accessible and fast. In this article we will review basic concepts of lung ultrasound and its use in the diagnosis of pathologies.

17ß-Estradiol modulates cell proliferation of medullary cords during ovarian differentiation of the Lepidochelys olivacea sea turtle.

In turtles undergoing temperature sex determination (TSD), bipotential gonads express Sox9 in medullary cords at both female- (FPT) and male-producing temperatures (MPT). Subsequently, when the sex fate of medullary cords becomes dimorphic, at FPT, Sox9 is downregulated, whereas at MPT, its expression is maintained. Medullary cords in the ovary turn into ovarian lacuna, whereas in the testis they differentiate as seminiferous cords. When embryos of Lepidochelys olivacea sea turtle are incubated at MPT and treated with estradiol, Sox9 expression persists in the medullary cords in the form of tiny ovotestis-like formations. The perturbed development of the treated gonads is due to a significant decrease in the number of proliferating cells. This suggests that the disturbed effect caused by exogenous estradiol may be due to a conflict between the gene networks regulated by temperature and the increased level of endogenous estrogens, induced by the treatment. Here, we decided to use fadrozole and fulvestrant, an aromatase inhibitor and an estrogen-receptor antagonist, respectively, to provide insights into the role played by endogenous estrogens in regulating the cell proliferation of the two main gonadal compartments: the medullary cords and the cortex. Comparing cell proliferation patterns, our current results suggest that the endogenous estrogens are involved in determining the sex fate of medullary cords, by repressing proliferation. Interestingly, our results showed that endogenous estradiol levels are unnecessary for the thickening of the ovarian cortex.

Reactive dications: the superacid-catalyzed reactions of alkynes bearing adjacent N-heterocycles or amine groups.

A variety of aminoalkynes and related heterocycles are reacted in the Bronsted superacid CF(3)SO(3)H (triflic acid), and products are obtained in generally good yields (69-99%) from Friedel-Crafts-type reactions. The reactions are consistent with the formation of novel dicationic intermediates having a vinyl cationic site and an adjacent protonated N-heterocycle or ammonium cation.

Dicationic intermediates involving protonated amides: dual modes of reactivity including the acylation of arenes.

In the Brønsted superacid CF(3)SO(3)H (triflic acid), amides are able to form reactive, dicationic electrophiles. It is shown that these dicationic intermediates participate in two distinctly different types of electrophilic reactions. The protonated amide increases the reactivity of an adjacent electrophilic group, and the protonated amide group itself shows enhanced reactivity arising from an adjacent cationic charge. In the latter case, several types of amides are even capable of reacting with benzene by Friedel-Crafts acylation. [reaction--see text]

Superacid-catalyzed reactions of cinnamic acids and the role of superelectrophiles.

The chemistry of cinnamic acids and related compounds has been studied. In superacid-catalyzed reactions with arenes, two competing reaction mechanisms are proposed. Both mechanisms involve the formation of dicationic intermediates (superelectrophiles), and the reactions can lead to either chalcone-type products or indanone products. The direct observation of a dicationic species (by low-temperature (13)C NMR) is reported. We provide clear evidence that protonated carboxylic acid groups (or the corresponding acyl cation) can enhance the reactivity of an adjacent electrophilic center. Triflic acid is also found to be an effective acid catalyst for the direct synthesis of some electron-deficient chalcones and heterocyclic chalcones from cinnnamic acids.

Dicationic electrophiles from olefinic amines in superacid.

This paper describes the superacid-catalyzed chemistry of olefinic amines and related compounds. A variety of olefinic amines are found to react with benzene in CF(3)SO(3)H (triflic acid) to give addition products in good yields (75-99%), including the pharmaceutical agents fenpiprane and prozapine. A general mechanism is proposed that invokes the formation of reactive, dicationic electrophiles and the direct observation of a diprotonated species is reported from low-temperature NMR experiments. This chemistry is also used to conveniently prepare functionalized polystyrene beads having pendant amine groups.

Comportamiento tipo A en mujeres trabajadoras de mexico: analisis psicometrico de una escala / Type A behavior in mexican female workers: a psychometric analysis of a scale

El objetivo principal de este estudio fue el de analizar la estructura factorial y la consistencia interna de la versión castellana de la Escala de Actividad de Jenkins (JAS), en mujeres trabajadoras. Un objetivo relacionado fue el de analizar los componentes del Patrón de Comportamiento Tipo A (PCTA) en función de algunas variables socioculturales. Participaron 202 mujeres trabajadoras de Guadalajara, México. Los análisis indicaron que la estructura factorial del JAS estaba constituida por tres factores (Competitividad, impaciencia, sobrecarga laboral) y que el alpha de Cronbach mostraba un nivel adecuado. A pesar de esto, 7 reactivos mostraron bajas correlaciones. Se analizó una nueva versión eliminando esos reactivos (JAS-20), y los resultados indicaron que tanto la estructura factorial como la consistencia interna mejoraron. Los análisis de las variables socioculturales indicaron que las mujeres casadas tenían calificaciones más altas que las solteras en competitividad y sobrecarga laboral; que las mujeres con más años de escolaridad, así como las que tenían un empleo a nivel técnico o profesional, y las dedicadas a los negocios, también calificaban más alto en competitividad. Y las mujeres con un empleo de obreras o dedicadas a los negocios tenían calificaciones más altas en impaciencia que las empleadas en instituciones de servicios. Los resultados apoyan el uso del JAS-20 con trabajadoras de México, y sugieren que los múltiples roles (e.g., como pareja, con hijos, etc.) que juegan las mujeres pueden favorecer la expresión de los componentes del PCTA, mientras que no considerar este tipo de variables en el análisis del PCTA puede oscurecer su expresión a través de culturas

Registro de la incidencia de leucemia en Bogotá / Leukemia incidence in Bogota

Se registraron 320 pacientes de Junio de 1985 a Junio de 1987 con leucemia en los centros hospitalarios, incluídos en el estudio, de los cuales se excluyeron 67 por no cumplir los criterios de inclusión, los 253 restantes se distribuyeron de la siguiente forma: 58.49 por ciento Leucemia Linfoide Aguda, 5.13 por ciento Leucemia Linfoide Crónica, 16.6 por ciento Leucemia Mieloide Aguda, 13.83 por ciento Leucemia Mieloide Crónica, 3.95 por ciento Leucemia no Linfoide Aguda, 0.39 por ciento Leucemia Indiferenciada, 0.79 por ciento Leucemia de Células Fundamentales y 0.79 por ciento Leucemia Mielomonocítica Crónica y 0.78 por ciento Eritroleucemia, con una Tasa Cruda de 5.39 X 100.000 habitantes. Todos estos datos correlacionaron constantemente con los encontrados en las diferentes series registradas. Se examinaron además otras variables y no se encontraron tampoco diferencias significativas. Se demostró la importancia y necesidad de constituir un registro poblacional de Cáncer en Bogotá.