Genetic diversity and biological activity of Curcuma longa ecotypes from Rapa Nui using molecular markers.

Curcuma Longa (CL) has been used for hundreds of years by native people from Rapa Nui for the treatment of different illness. Despite this plant was introduced from Polynesia or India, there is still scarce information about its origin. The objective of this study was to analyze the genetic variation of three CL ecotypes based on molecular phylogenetic and genotypification using internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and simple sequence repeats (SSR). Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of rhizomes and leaves extracts of three CL plants were analyzed by spectrophotometric methods and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibition assay. Complementarily, we predicted the potential binding mode and binding energy of curcuminoids and nonsteroidals anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) into COX-2 via molecular docking. The ITS2 sequence shows two major clusters (I and II), group I consisted of Curcuma haritha and group II consisted of different species of Curcuma and Rapa Nui samples (MR-1, MR-2 and RK-2). Results of SSR markers show that genotype MR-2 was similar to MR-1 and RK-2 with 70.8 and 42.9% similarity, whereas genotype was similar to RK-2, MR-1 and MR-2 with 63.9, 43.2 and 42.9% similarity, respectively. MR-1 have better antioxidant and autoinflammatory activity than rest of CL samples due to its high concentration of polyphenols (33.68 mg/g) and curcumin (29.69 mg/g). Furthermore, docking results show that three curcuminoids of CL and selective NAIDs, as celecoxib, etodolac and meloxicam, share the same binding pocket into COX-2. However, three curcuminoids have a lower ΔGbinding than other COX-2 selective NAIDs as etodolac and meloxicam, except for Coxib family as valdecoxib, celecoxib and rofecoxib. Our findings suggest MR-1, MR-2 and MK-2 from Germplasm Bank (Mataveri Otai of CONAF) are closely related to Curcuma amada and Curcuma montana even though they have genetic variability.

[Diagnostic approach to cardiopathies by means of magnetic resonance imaging]. / Abordaje diagnóstico de las miocardiopatías mediante resonancia magnética.

Cardiomyopathies encompass a broad spectrum of heart pathologies having a basic principle, the intrinsic injury of the myocardial fiber. By definition, cardiomyopathies could be primary (dilated cardiomyopathy), or can be a consequence of another cardiovascular illness (high blood pressure), or of genetic anomalies, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or due to alterations in myocytes due to fibrolipidic material as occurs in right ventricle arrhythmogenic dysplasia. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging is the best method to approach the diagnosis of these pathologies. Magnetic resonance imaging has allowed us to study histological sections through adequate sequences and using gadolinium as contrast agent. We present herein a simple way to approach the diagnosis of cardiomyopathies by means of magnetic resonance imaging methods.

Abordaje diagnóstico de las miocardiopatías mediante resonancia magnética / Diagnostic approach to cardiopathies by means of magnetic resonance imaging

Las miocardiopatías son un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades del corazón, las cuales tienen como característica fundamental el daño intrínseco a la fibra miocárdica. Por definición a las miocardiopatías que no tienen un origen determinado se les conoce como primarias (miocardiopatía dilatada), o bien pueden ser secundarias o como consecuencia de alguna enfermedad (hipertensión arterial), aunque existe otro grupo de miocardiopatías que tiene su concepto fisiopatológico por las alteraciones genéticas que codifican de manera anormal las miofibrillas (cardiomiopatía hipertrófica) o bien alteraciones que condicionan reemplazo fibrolipídico de las miofibrillas (displasia arritmogénica del ventrículo derecho). De las técnicas actuales de imagen la que a la fecha resulta ser la ideal en el diagnóstico de estas patologías es la resonancia magnética, ya que es la única que nos permite adquirir un número ilimitado de imágenes en todos los planos posibles del corazón, así como poder realizar cortes "histológicos" utilizando secuencias adecuadas mediante el empleo del gadolinio como agente de contraste. Por esta razón es que nos proponemos presentar de una manera breve el abordaje de las miocardiopatías mediante las técnicas de imagen por resonancia magnética.

Cardiomyopathies encompass a broad spectrum of heart pathologies having a basic principle, the intrinsic injury of the myocardial fiber. By definition, cardiomyopathies could be primary (dilated cardiomyopathy), or can be a consequence of another cardiovascular illness (high blood pressure), or of genetic anomalies, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or due to alterations in myocytes due to fibrolipidic material as occurs in right ventricle arrhythmogenic dysplasia. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging is the best method to approach the diagnosis of these pathologies. Magnetic resonance imaging has allowed us to study histological sections through adequate sequences and using gadolinium as contrast agent. We present herein a simple way to approach the diagnosis of cardiomyopathies by means of magnetic resonance imaging methods.