Conocimientos de los residentes de Medicina General Integral sobre prevención y control de las arbovirosis / Comprehensive General Medicine residents: their knowledge about prevention and control of arboviruses

Fundamento: las arbovirosis son enfermedades víricas transmitidas por mosquitos, las que han propagado rápidamente en todas las regiones del mundo en los últimos años, con alta incidencia en la salud de las personas y en la economía de los países. Objetivo: identificar el nivel de conocimientos de los residentes de Medicina General Integral del municipio Abreus, sobre la prevención y control de las arbovirosis. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, de corte transversal, en la Dirección Municipal de Salud Abreus, en octubre de 2021. Se utilizaron métodos teóricos y empíricos para fundamentar la investigación, y estadísticos para el análisis de los datos encontrados. Resultados: la mayoría de los residentes manifestaron que han tenido preparación sobre la prevención y control de las arbovirosis, fundamentalmente, durante la educación en el trabajo, todos han adquirido experiencia previa en la pesquisa activa, y algunos señalaron haber atendido a enfermos; sin embargo, la mayoría presentaron dificultades para identificar las formas clínicas y el cuadro clínico de las arbovirosis. Conclusiones: se identificó el nivel de conocimientos alcanzados por los residentes de Medicina General Integral del municipio Abreus, sobre la prevención y control de las arbovirosis, el diagnóstico realizado mostró la necesidad de asumir nuevas metodologías en la educación en el trabajo a fin de lograr correctos modos de actuación y actualización sobre su prevención y control.

Background: arboviruses are viral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, which have spread rapidly in all regions of the world in recent years, with a high impact on people's health and the economies of countries. Objective: to identify the level of knowledge of Comprehensive General Medicine residents from the Abreus municipality, about the prevention and control of arboviruses. Methods: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out at the Abreus Municipal Health Directorate, in October 2021. Theoretical and empirical methods were used to support the research, and statistical methods were used to analyze the data found. Results: most residents stated that they have had training on the prevention and control of arboviruses, mainly, during on-the-job education, all have acquired previous experience in active search, and some of them indicated had taken care for sick people; however, most of them had difficulties in identifying the clinical forms and clinical profile of arboviruses. Conclusions: the level of knowledge achieved by Comprehensive General Medicine residents from Abreus municipality was identified, regarding the prevention and control of arboviruses, the diagnosis made by them showed the need to conceive new methodologies in education at work in order to achieve adequate modes of action and updating their knowledge about the prevention and control of it.

Effects of the Addition of Flaxseed and Amaranth on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Instant-Extruded Products.

The addition of flaxseed and amaranth on the physicochemical, functional, and microstructural changes of instant-extruded products was evaluated. Six mixtures with different proportions of amaranth (18.7-33.1%), flaxseed (6.6-9.3%), maize grits (55.6-67.3%) and minor ingredients (4.7%) were extruded in a twin-screw extruder. Insoluble and soluble fiber contents in extrudates increased as the proportions of amaranth and flaxseed increased. However, the highest flaxseed proportion had the highest soluble fiber content (1.9%). Extruded products with the highest proportion of flaxseed and amaranth resulted in the highest dietary fiber content and hardness values (5.2 N), which was correlated with the microstructural analysis where the crystallinity increased, resulting in larger, and more compact laminar structure. The extruded products with the highest maize grits proportion had the highest viscosity, expansion, and water absorption indexes, and the lowest water solubility index values. The mixtures with amaranth (18.7-22.9%), flaxseed (8.6-9.3%), and maize grits (63.8-67.3%) resulted in extruded products with acceptable physicochemical and functional properties.

Safety of Aqueous Extract of Calea ternifolia Used in Mexican Traditional Medicine.

There is a trend to use medicinal plants for primary medical care or as dietary supplements; however, the safety of many of these plants has not been studied. The objective of this work was to determine the toxic effect of the aqueous extract of Calea ternifolia (C. zacatechichi), known popularly as "dream herb" in vivo and in vitro in order to validate its safety. In vivo, the extract had moderate toxicity on A. salina. In vitro, the extract induced eryptosis of 73% at a concentration of 100 µg·mL-1 and it inhibited CYP3A by 99% at a concentration of 375 µg/mL. After administering 8.5 mg/kg of C. ternifolia to rats, we found a reduction in platelets and leukocytes and an increase in urea and the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Histological analysis showed spongiform changes in the proximal tubules of renal tissue and a lymphoid infiltrate in liver tissue. This plant is used in the treatment of diabetes, and it is commercialized as a dietary supplement in several countries. Our results show renal and hepatic toxicity; therefore, more profound research on the toxicity of this plant is needed.

Comparative Reduction of Egg Yolk Cholesterol Using Anionic Chelating Agents.

Egg yolk is used as an emulsifying agent. Nevertheless, its high concentration of cholesterol is linked to chronic degenerative diseases that cause cardiovascular disease. In this study, three methods for reducing the level of cholesterol in egg yolks were studied. The first method consisted of physical separation of the granules contained in the yolk (NaG). The second method applied was the use of anionic chelating biopolymers, such as arabic gum solution (AG) and mesquite gum solution (MG), and the third method was extraction with a solvent (SA). For this purpose, the cholesterol present in egg yolks, the microstructure, particle size, zeta potential, and its emulsifying capacity were determined. The amount of cholesterol removed was 97.24% using 1% mesquite gum (MG1%), and 93.26% using 1% Arabic gum (AG1%). The zeta potential was determined, and the isoelectric point (ζ = 0) of egg yolk was identified as pH 4.6. While, at this pH, the zeta potential of mesquite gum was -14.8 mV, the zeta potential for the arabic gum was -16 mV. The emulsifying capacity of MG1% was 62.95%, while the emulsifying capacity of AG1% was 63.57%. The complex obtained can be used in the development of functional foods reduced in cholesterol.

Physicochemical Changes and Resistant-Starch Content of Extruded Cornstarch with and without Storage at Refrigerator Temperatures.

Effects of extrusion cooking and low-temperature storage on the physicochemical changes and resistant starch (RS) content in cornstarch were evaluated. The cornstarch was conditioned at 20%-40% moisture contents and extruded in the range 90-130 °C and at screw speeds in the range 200-360 rpm. The extrudates were stored at 4 °C for 120 h and then at room temperature. The water absorption, solubility index, RS content, viscoelastic, thermal, and microstructural properties of the extrudates were evaluated before and after storage. The extrusion temperature and moisture content significantly affected the physicochemical properties of the extrudates before and after storage. The RS content increased with increasing moisture content and extrusion temperature, and the viscoelastic and thermal properties showed related behaviors. Microscopic analysis showed that extrusion cooking damaged the native starch structure, producing gelatinization and retrogradation and forming RS. The starch containing 35% moisture and extruded at 120 °C and 320 rpm produced the most RS (1.13 g/100 g) after to storage at low temperature. Although the RS formation was low, the results suggest that extrusion cooking could be advantageous for RS production and application in the food industry since it is a pollution less, continuous process requiring only a short residence time.

Miconia sp. Increases mRNA Levels of PPAR Gamma and Inhibits Alpha Amylase and Alpha Glucosidase.

Diabetes mellitus is a public health problem worldwide. For this reason, ethanolic extract of Miconia sp. from Oaxaca, Mexico, was selected in search of an alternative against this disease. The effect of Miconia sp. on mRNA expression of PPARγ on cell line 3T3-L1, its effect on alpha amylase and alpha glucosidase, lipid accumulation during adipogenesis, and cell viability on VERO cells were evaluated. The mRNA levels of PPARγ increased on 1.393 ± 0.008 folds, lipid accumulation was increased by 29.55% with Miconia sp. extract and 34.57% with rosiglitazone, and α-amylase and α-glycosidase were inhibited with IC50 values from 28.23 ± 2.15 µg/mL and 1.95 ± 0.15 µg/mL, respectively; the IC50 on antiproliferative activity on VERO cells was 314.54 ± 45.40 µg/mL. In case of α-amylase and α-glycosidase assays, IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50) refers to necessary extract amounts to inhibit 50% of enzymatic activity. On the other hand, on antiproliferative activity, IC50 (inhibitory concentration 50) refers to necessary extract amounts to inhibit 50% of cell proliferation. It was concluded that the compounds present in Miconia sp. ethanolic extract increase mRNA expression of PPARγ, inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and increase lipid accumulation. It constitutes an alternative as adjuvant in diabetes mellitus treatment; therefore, we recommend continuing identifying the compounds responsible for its promising in vivo antidiabetic activity.

Fibrinógeno sérico en angina inestable como predictor de progresión a infarto agudo del miocardio / Serum fibrinogen in unstable angina as a predictor of progresion to acute miocardial infarction

Con el presente trabajo se pretendió demostrar que los niveles séricos de fibrinógeno ayudan a predecir la ocurrencia de infarto del miocardio en pacientes con angina inestable. La población estuvo conformada por los pacientes con diagnóstico de angina inestable que acudieron al Hospital Central Dr. Urquinaona de Maracaibo. A una muestra de sesenta pacientes escogidos al azar, de ambos sexos y con una edad mayor o igual a cuarenta años, se les descartó al ser ingresados infarto del miocardio según los criterios de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se formaron dos grupos según la evolución clínica: grupo A, pacientes con angina inestable y grupo B, pacientes que desarrollan infarto del miocardio. Se determinaron los niveles séricos de fibrinógeno y CPK-MB al ingreso, a las 24, 48 y 72 horas de evolución (tomas N° 1, 2, 3 y 4 respectivamente). El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante la t de Student, la prueba de Chi cuadrado y el test de correlación de Pearson según correspondiera. El grupo B presentó niveles séricos de fibrinógeno, colesterol y recuento plaquetario significativamente elevados (P<0,0001). En dicho grupo, la elevación de la CPK-MB en las tomas N° 2, 3 y 4 fue significativa (P<0,0001). De igual forma presentaron niveles elevados de fibrinógeno en todas las tomas (P<0,05). Hubo correlación positivas significante entre el fibrinógeno y la CPK-MB (r= 0,663, P<0,0001). Queda claro que la elevación del fibrinógeno al inicio del dolor precordial es un factor de riesgo independiente que indica la evolución de la angina inestable hacia el infarto del miocardio, por lo cual se puede considerar como predictor de evento coronario adverso. El fibrinógeno se elevó primero que la CPK-MB circustancia que determina su posible uso como marcador pronóstico de infarto del miocardio en pacientes con angina inestable. Esta posible función como herramienta pronóstica debería confirmarse con estudios que incluyan mayor número de pacientes