Cytotoxic/antiproliferative and nutraceutical activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of green and mature Averrhoa carambola.

Averrhoa carambola L. presents in its composition diversity of nutrients and vitamins. The present study aimed to extract water and fat-soluble compounds from this fruit at different stages of maturation (green and mature), perform the physical-chemical characterization as well as evaluate its cytotoxicity against hepatoma cells of Rattus norvegicus (HTC). The physicochemical results showed that the pH and molar acidity is influenced by the fruit maturation state. The fruit presented high percentage of moisture, while the percentage of total minerals (ash) increased according to its maturation stage. The results of the phytochemical screening showed that star fruits present phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity showed greater potential for the ethanolic extracts of the green and mature star fruit. For HTC cells treated with ethanolic extract of green and mature star fruit the data show absence of cytotoxic effect. The tests with the aqueous extract showed cytotoxic/antiproliferative effect of green and mature star fruit extract, in 24, 48 and 72 hours. The presence of nutraceutical compounds and the cytotoxic/antiproliferative activity were more expressive in the aqueous extract, being an option of easily accessible solvent economic and not harmful to organisms.

Comparison of clinical and cognitive characteristics of a Mexican adult clinical population with and without ADHD / Comparación de las características clínicas y cognitivas de una población clínica adulta mexicana con y sin TDAH

Abstract Introduction Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 5% of the world population, with symptoms that may persist into adulthood. Despite the findings on the clinical course of this disorder, information regarding comorbidity patterns, psychosocial and executive functioning in adult life in those with and without ADHD in Latin American samples is scarce. Objective The aim of this study is to compare the comorbidity pattern, psychosocial, and executive functioning of adults with and without ADHD from a clinical sample. Method One hundred and fifty-one patients between 20 and 45 years, with screened positively on ASRS-V1.1, were invited to continue an evaluation process as part of clinical research program (PROMETEO): 1) K-SADS-PL Mx interview, 2) MINI-Plus interview, ASRS-V1-1 18 item version, BRIEF self-reported questionnaire, SCQA-ADHD, and 3) Individual case review by clinical expert in ADHD. Results Individuals in the ADHD group had a higher average of comorbid disorders (2.5 SD 1.1 vs. 1.3 SD 1.0 respectively, F = .439; t = -6.621; df = 149; p < .001), more likelihood of procrastinating (OR = 6.5; 95% CI[2.6, 16.2]; z = 4.0) and were more likely to present difficulties in both the behavior regulation index (OR = 104.9; 95% CI[31.8, 345.7]; z = 7.65) and the metacognitive index (OR = 94.79; 95% CI[29.10, 308.76]; z = 7.56) compared to the non-ADHD group, regardless of gender. Discussion and conclusions Our results indicate that the ADHD adult group presented with more comorbidity, and worse psychosocial and executive functioning than non-ADHD adults.

Resumen Introducción El trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad (TDAH) es un trastorno del neurodesarrollo que afecta aproximadamente al 5% de la población mundial, persistiendo hasta la adultez. A pesar de los hallazgos acerca del curso clínico de este trastorno, la información es escasa con respecto a los patrones de comorbilidad, funcionamiento psicosocial y ejecutivo en la vida adulta entre aquellos con y sin TDAH en muestras latinoamericanas. Objetivo Comparar el patrón de comorbilidad, el funcionamiento psicosocial y ejecutivo de adultos con y sin TDAH de una muestra clínica. Método Ciento cincuenta y un pacientes entre 20 y 45 años, quienes inicialmente presentaron un tamizaje positivo del ASRS-V1.1, fueron evaluados dentro de un programa de investigación clínica (PROMETEO) con los siguientes instrumentos: 1) la entrevista K-SADS-PL-Mx, 2) la entrevista MINI-Plus, la version de 18 items del ASRS-V1-1, y los cuestionarios autoaplicados BRIEF y SCQA-ADHD y 3) Revisión de cada caso por un clínico experto en el diagnóstico de TDAH. Resultados El grupo de TDAH comparado con aquel sin TDAH presentó un mayor promedio de trastornos comórbidos (2.5 DE 1.1 vs 1.3 DE 1.0 respectivamente, F = .439; t = -6.621; gl = 149; p < .001), mayor probabilidad de procrastinar (OR = 6.5; 95% IC[2.6, 16.2]; z = 4.0), y mayor probabilidad de presentar dificultades tanto en el índice de regulación de la conducta (OR = 104.9; 95% IC[31.8, 345.7]; z = 7.65) como en el índice metacognitivo (OR = 94.79; 95% IC[29.10, 308.76]; z = 7.56) independientemente del sexo. Discusión y conclusión Nuestros resultados señalan que los adultos con TDAH presentan mayor comorbilidad y peor funcionamiento psicosocial y ejecutivo que los adultos sin TDAH.

Hurdle technology applied to prickly pear beverages for inhibiting Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli.

The effect of pH reduction (from 6·30-6·45 to 4·22-4·46) and the addition of antimicrobial compounds (sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate) on the inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli in prickly pear beverages formulated with the pulp and peel of Villanueva (V, Opuntia albicarpa) and Rojo Vigor (RV, Opuntia ficus-indica) varieties during 14 days of storage at 25°C, was evaluated. RV variety presented the highest microbial inhibition. By combining pH reduction and preservatives, reductions of 6·2-log10 and 2·3-log10 for E. coli and S. cerevisiae were achieved respectively. Due to the low reduction of S. cerevisiae, pulsed electric fields (PEF) (11-15 µs/25-50 Hz/27-36 kV cm(-1)) was applied as another preservation factor. The combination of preservatives, pH reduction and PEF at 13-15 µs/25-50 Hz for V variety, and 11 µs/50 Hz, 13-15 µs/25-50 Hz for RV, had a synergistic effect on S. cerevisiae inhibition, achieving at least 3·4-log10 of microbial reduction immediately after processing, and more than 5-log10 at fourth day of storage at 25°C maintained this reduction during 21 days of storage (P > 0·05). Hurdle technology using PEF in combination with other factors is adequate to maintain stable prickly pear beverages during 21 days/25°C. Significance and impact of the study: Prickly pear is a fruit with functional value, with high content of nutraceuticals and antioxidant activity. Functional beverages formulated with the pulp and peel of this fruit represent an alternative for its consumption. Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae are micro-organisms that typically affect fruit beverage quality and safety. The food industry is looking for processing technologies that maintain quality without compromising safety. Hurdle technology, including pulsed electric fields (PEF) could be an option to achieve this. The combination of PEF, pH reduction and preservatives is an alternative to obtain safe and minimally processed prickly pear beverages with convenient shelf-life.

Dielectric study of the adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord on a sugarcane biopolymer.

It is of current interest the identification of appropriate matrices for growing mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). These cells are able not only to regenerate themselves but also to differentiate into other type of functional cells, and so they have been extensively used in tissue engineering. In this work, we have evaluated the use of electric impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to follow the adhesion of MSC from Wharton's jelly of the human umbilical cord (hWJMSC) on sugarcane biopolymers (SCB). Impedance spectra of the systems were obtained in the frequency range of 10(2)-10(5) Hz. An EIS investigation showed that when deposited on a metallic electrode SCB films prevent the passage of electrons between the solution and the metallic interface. The impedance spectra of hWJMSCs adhered on SCB revealed that there is a significant increase in the magnitude of the impedance when compared to that of pure SCB. The corresponding resistance (real part of the impedance) was even higher for the SCB-hWJMSC system than for SCB without cells on their surface, in an indication of an increased blockage to the electron transfers. The resistance charge transfer is extracted by curve-fitting the impedance spectra to an equivalent circuit model. Also, a shift of the phase angle to higher frequencies was obtained for SCB-hWJMSC system as a result from hWJMSC adhesion. Our study demonstrates that EIS is an appropriate method to evaluate the adhesion of MSC. SCB can be considered as a promising biomaterial for tissue engineering.

High organochlorine accumulation in blubber of Guiana dolphin, Sotalia guianensis, from Brazilian coast and its use to establish geographical differences among populations.

Blubber samples from 33 Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from three estuaries (Guanabara, Sepetiba/Ilha Grande and Paranaguá Bays) of Southern and Southeastern Brazil were analyzed for organochlorine compounds (DDTs, PCBs and HCB). The sampled individuals were incidentally captured in gillnet fishery between 1995 and 2005. The concentrations (in ng/g lipids) varied from 652 to 23 555 for SigmaDDT; from 765 to 99 175 for SigmaPCB; and from <4.4 to 156 for HCB. The results have shown that cetaceans from Brazil present organochlorine concentrations that are comparable to those reported for highly industrialized regions of Northern Hemisphere. Using discriminant analysis it was possible to verify that the dolphin populations from the three bays present different organochlorine accumulation patterns. This feature allows the use of this set of pollutants as an auxiliary tool for identification of different populations of the species off Brazilian Coast.

Towards nanomedicine with a supramolecular approach: a review.

A review dedicated mainly to the results obtained by the authors on the use of cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives on protein (enzyme) stabilization through covalent and non-covalent interactions (host-guest supramolecular interactions) is presented here. This latter procedure served to introduce a new method for enzyme immobilization on metallic surfaces that can be used to prepare biosensors and therapeutic nanodevices. The surfaces of gold (and silver) electrodes and nanoparticles were modified with sulphur-containing cyclodextrin derivatives. The protein (enzyme) was then supramolecularly immobilized on the modified surface when one or more of its bulky hydrophobic moieties was included into the CD cavity. The protein can also be modified with a typical CD guest, such as adamantane, to achieve a more stable immobilization. Different examples are presented, such as a biosensor based on monolayers of adamantane-modified cytochrome c and a bienzymatic nanodevice comprising gold nanoparticles stabilized with CD associated to catalase and superoxide dismutase modified with complementary host-guest residues. The possibilities of this new approach for the development of biosensors and therapeutic nanodevices are analyzed.

[GASTRODUODENAL ULCER IN PEDIATRICS] / Ulcera gastroduodenal en Pediatría.

476 endoscopic reports of 435 children under 15 years old of both sexes were reviewed to determine the morbility of gastroduodenal peptic ulcer. Endoscopy was performed because they had symptoms referred to the upper gastrointestinal tract between December 1989 and December 1994. Gastroduodenal ulcer was diagnosed in forty five children (10,3%). Primary ulcer was diagnosed in twenty four patients (55%) and secondary ulcers in twenty one (45%), being the administration of ulcerogenic drugs the main factor involved. Primary ulcer was more frequently diagnosed in older children and teenagers and localized mainly in the duodenum. Male sex was predominant in both types of ulcers. 42% of children with primary ulcers had familiar ocurrence of ulcer disease. Thirty three patients (73%) had complications, being gastrointestinal bleeding the most frequent. Ulcer disease is not rare in children and must be suspected in patients with recurrent abdominal pain.

[PREVALENCE OF ANTI-HCV IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN] / Prevalencia del anticuerpo contra el virus de laHepatitis C en niños hospitalizados.

In the last years, one of the causative agents of post-transfusion non A non B hepatitis has been identified as hepatitis virus C(HCV). In order to determine the HCV prevalence in a pediatric population, an anti-HCV determination through Cuban manufactured Microelisa system was done to 500 hospitalized children under 14 years old, of both sex, for six months. The samples repeatedly reactive were considered positive, the risk factors for this infection were evaluated and the Relative Risk was estimated. Seven patients (1,4% of the sample) were HCV-positive, and underwent clinical, biochemical, immunological, echographic, laparoscopic and histological examinations to determine the hepatic damages associated to the presence of this virus. The Relative Risk for HCV is 4,5 times more for those with previous surgical operation, 3,9 for those who have had more than four previous hospitalizations and, of 2,6 and 1,9 for those with previous transfusion and treatment with vaccine, respectively. The predominant histological lesion reported was a minimum damage of the liver cells. It is important to screen for HCV in blood banks and to study other possible routes of transmission. We recommend the follow up of these patients for the possibility of cronical sequela.

Tratamiento con las bujías de Savary-Gilliard en las estenosis esofágicas del niño / Treatment with Savary-Gilliard bougies on children esophageal strictures

Se estudiaron 30 pacientes menores de 15 años con estenosis esofágica, 16 de ellos secundaria a ingestión de caústicos susceptibles de tratamiento de dilatación endoscópica. La dilatación se realizó bajo anestesia general con un GIF-XP10 de la casa Olympus y bajo pantalla fluoroscópica con las bujías de Savary-Gilliard modelo pediátrico. En la estenosis postcáusticos se asoció al tratamineto inyectoterapia endoscópica con Betametasona. El tercio superior del esófago fué la localización más frecuente, predominando la variedad tubular en las secundarias a cáusticos y la anular en las otras causas. En las postcáusticos se realizaron 385 dilataciones en 115 sesiones, mientras que en las otras causas se realizaron 159 dilataciones en 51 sesiones. Como complicación solo se reportan dos perforaciones y una sepsis en el grupo de los causticos. No se observó mortalidad. El promedio de curación fué de un 43.7 por ciento en los postcáusticos y un 85.7 por ciento en las otras causas

Trastornos de somatización en pacientes asistidos en la consulta externa de un hospital provincial / Somatization changes in patients assisted in external visits in a rural hospital

Es un trabajo prospectivo de tipo clínico que se realizó en el Hospital Juan Pablo Pina de San Cristobal, República Dominicana, con 400 pacientes femeninas tomadas al azar de la consulta médica general. Del total de pacientes investigadas, 4.75//califican para el diagnóstico de trastorno de somatización; en un 63.2//de los casos, el trastorno comenzó antes de los 10 años; el resto comenzó de los 20-29 años. De los 7 síntomas que sirven para el diagnóstico, el más representativo fué la dismenorrea y el menos la amnesia. Palabras claves: psiquiatría, Somatización, Medicina General

Estudio de 102 trasplantes renales (aspectos quirúrgicos) / A study on 102 renal transplantations (surgical aspects)

Se realiza un estudio de 102 trasplantes renales efectuados a 87 pacientes a partir de riñón de cadáver, en el Instituto de Nefrología de La Habana, Cuba. Once pacientes recibieron 2 trasplantes; y 2 recibieron retrasplantes en tres oportunidades. Un 54 porciento de los pacientes se encuentran vivos, y un 48,2 porciento vivos y con función. El plan de trasplante fue apoyado por un programa de diálisis iterativas. Se expone el plan de desarrollo del Instituto para el año de 1974. Se analizan en este informe las complicaciones quirúrgicas más frecuentes, así como las causas de muerte (AU)

Nuestra experiencia en trasplante renal. Informe preliminar / Our experience on renal graft. A preliminary report

Se realiza un estudio en el que se señala que entre febrero/70 y agosto/71 se realizaron en el Instituto de Nefrología de La Habana, 48 trasplantes en 41 pacientes a partir de riñón de cadáver basados en grupos sanguíneos y Cross Match Tres pacientes recibieron 2 trasplantes y otros dos fueron retrasplantados en tres oportunidades. Se informa que el trasplante renal fue apoyado por un programa de diálisis iterativas con diálisis peritoneal y/o hemodiálisis con reutilización de la bobina. Las técnicas quirúrgicas empleadas fueron las Starzl modificada y la de Politano Leadbetter extravesical para la contigüidad vascular y ureteral, respectivamente. La anestesia más utilizada fue la epidural con sangre, con la que se obtuvieron excelentes resultados (AU)