Sub-acute toxicity evaluation of aqueous leaf extract from Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis (Gulupa) in Wistar rats.

The genus Passiflora (Passifloraceae) comprises about 500 species. The Passiflora edulis stands out because of its economic and medicinal importance. It is widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, especially in South America, the Caribbean, South Africa, and Asia. The aqueous extract of Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis (Gulupa) leaves is used in traditional medicine for its soothing and tranquilizing effects on the central nervous system. Therefore, evaluating its safety for human use is a fundamental requirement to continue the development of new therapies within the framework of regulatory, preclinical, and clinical guidelines. Here, the sub-acute toxicity study was conducted following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline 407 for 28 days in Wistar albino rats. The study showed that 1000 mg/kg/day of the aqueous extract in 10 adult Wistar rats (five males and five females) was well tolerated. The hematological results are at normal levels. However, monocytopenia and eosinopenia were observed with a significant difference (P < 0,05) for both male and female rats treated with the aqueous extract of Passiflora edulis. The results show that liver and kidney function profiles were conserved. However, an increase in ALT is observed with significant differences between male and female rats treated with the extract compared to the controls. Study findings were limited to non-adverse histopathological results of a slightly increased incidence of focal periportal lymphocytic infiltrate in the liver and focal corticomedullary nephrocalcinosis in the kidney compared to control. Therefore, the aqueous extract of Passiflora edulis has a good safety profile in oral administration, was well tolerated, and did not cause any lethality or adverse effects in the sub-acute toxicity study in male and female rats. The NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) for the 28-day subacute toxicity study was considered to be 1000 mg/kg.

Effects of Bipolar Radiofrequency on Collagen Synthesis from Patients with Brachial Ptosis.

Radiofrequency is frequently used for skin rejuvenation, localized fat elimination and cellulite treatment. It prompts the expression of thermal shock proteins that lead to dermal thickening as a result of collagen synthesis. The authors report a histological and clinical analysis of the arm subdermal changes before and after bipolar radiofrequency treatment plus liposuction to determine their benefits for arm contouring. Methods: Inclusion criteria included patients with stage 1, 2a, and 2b brachial ptosis (Duncan classification) and upper limb fat deposits who were considered candidates for third-generation ultrasound-assisted liposculpture plus radiofrequency-assisted lipolysis/skin tightening. Arm subdermal tissue samples (5 mm³) were analyzed before and after the intervention. We used 10% formaldehyde for tissue fixation and stained each sample with hematoxylin/eosin, Masson trichrome, and antibody markers against the cell cycle Ki-67 protein. Results: We analyzed a total of 12 biopsies from six patients who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Histological findings with hematoxylin/eosin revealed hyperplastic and metaplastic changes with focal distribution within the papillary and reticular dermis. Masson trichrome staining showed an increase of the characteristic basophilia of thin type-I and type-III collagen fibers. In contrast, molecular analysis reported an increase in fibroblast activity mediated by the activation of the heat shock protein HSP47. Conclusion: Radiofrequency may be a great alternative to improve skin retraction in patients with mild to moderate brachial dermatochalasis through the activation of HSP47 heat shock protein and the production of type-I and type-III collagen.

Soluble interleukin-6 receptor in young adults and its relationship with body composition and autonomic nervous system.

BACKGROUND: The immune system generates inflammatory responses through cytokines like Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF α); these cytokines mediate cellular responses aided by the presence of soluble receptors such as: Soluble Interleukin 6 Receptor (sIL6R) and Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors Type 1 and 2 (sTNFR1, sTNFR2); the literature is limited about the relationship between this cytokines and the role of its soluble receptors. OBJECTIVES: This study is to determine a possible relationship between specific inflammatory markers and their soluble receptors with the autonomic nervous system's activity and body composition. METHODS: 27 subjects (13 men of 19.3 ± 1.6 years old and 14 women of 19.1 ± 1.7 years old) were evaluated. Body composition, autonomic nervous system activity and plasma concentration of inflammatory markers IL-6, TNF α, sIL6R, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 were measured using bio-impedance, heart rate variability and ELISA respectively. RESULTS: A positive association between body-fat percentage and the sIL6R (0.47, p = .013) as well as inverse relationship between muscular mass and the sIL6R (-0.45, p = .019) were found. The sIL6R was also positively correlated with sympathetic activity markers: Relation LF/HF (0.52, p = .006), cardiac sympathetic index (0.45, p = .008), and cardiac vagal index (-0.44, p = .022). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that the IL-6 trans-signaling involving both the soluble receptor, sIL6R, and gp130 membrane co-receptor could produce inflammatory responses that generate an impact on the autonomic nervous system, possibly due to its direct action on the hypothalamus, the solitary tract nucleus, or the heart.

Correlación histológica de expresión de marcadores Ki-67 y ciclina D1 presentes en carcinomas de células escamosas en cavidad oral / Histological correlation of Ki-67 and D1 cycline markers expression in squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity

Resumen: Introducción: El carcinoma oral de células escamosas (COCE) es una neoplasia maligna originada en los queratinocitos del epitelio. Biopsias tempranas, evidencian queratinocitos mitóticos displásicos e infiltrados inflamatorios subepiteliales que progresan a pérdida de la membrana basal. Sin embargo, en el diagnóstico histológico con hematoxilina y eosina (H&E) no se muestra adecuada correlación clínica, aspecto que mejora cuando se utilizan marcadores moleculares como Ki-67 y ciclina D1. El objetivo de este estudio es correlacionar la descripción histológica de casos de COCE con la expresión de Ki-67 y ciclina D1. Material y métodos: Se analizaron 12 pacientes con lesiones sugestivas de cáncer oral; fueron incluidos en el estudio pacientes con diagnóstico de COCE. Se tomaron biopsias únicas, procesamiento histotécnico para cortes en parafina, coloración con H&E y coloración inmunohistoquímica con ciclina D1 y Ki-67. Tres pacientes cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión, llamados C1, C2 y C3. Se clasificó el tipo de COCE según el American Joint Committee on Cancer. Resultados: Histológicamente el caso C1 fue clasificado como COCE tipo II, los casos C2 y C3 tipo I; en la inmunohistoquímica encontramos en C1 Ki-67 positivo y ciclina D1 negativo, para C2, Ki 67 negativo y ciclina D1 positivo y para C3 Ki-67 positivo y ciclina D1 negativo. Conclusiones: La búsqueda de marcadores como Ki67 y ciclina D1 en diagnósticos de COCE preestablecidos, pueden influenciar los resultados histológicos, contribuyendo a un diagnóstico más acertado así como los tratamientos a realizar en el paciente.

Abstract: Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant neoplasia originated in the epithelium's keratocytes. Early biopsies reveal dysplastic mitotic keratocytes and sub-epithelial inflammatory infiltrate which progress towards a loss of basal membrane. Nevertheless, hematoxillin and eosin (H&E) histological diagnosis does not show suitable clinical correlation; this aspect improves when molecular markers such as Ki-67 and cyclin D1 are used. The aim of the present study was to correlate histological description of OSCC cases with Ki-676 and cyclin D1 expression. Material and methods: Twelve patients with lesions suggestive of oral cancer were analyzed, patients with OSCC diagnosis were included in the study. Single biopsies were taken, observing histological and technical processing for paraffin cuts, coloration with H&E and immunohistochemical coloration with cyclin D1 and Ki-67. Three patients met inclusion criteria, they were named C1, C2 and C3. OSCC type was classified according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer. Results: Histologically, C1 case was classified as type II OSCC. Cases C2 and C3 were classified as type I OSCC. Immunohistochemical analysis for C1 revealed Ki-67 positive and cyclin D1 negative; C2 exhibited Ki-67 negative and cyclin D1 positive, and C3 showed Ki-67 positive and cyclin D1 negative. Conclusions: Search for markers such as Ki67 and cyclin D1 in pre-established OSCC diagnoses can influence histological results, contributing thus to more accurate diagnosis and treatment for the patients.

Micosis por Pythium Insidiosum primer caso con diagnóstico definitivo en Colombia / Mycoses for Pythium insidiosum. First case with definitive diagnosis in Colombia

Pythium insidiosum es un hongo distribuido globalmente causante de una micosis emergente llamada Pitiosis en personas y animales. El diagnóstico definitivo involucra correlación clínico epidemiológica, clínico patológica, histopatológica y molecular. En Colombia no existen antecedentes diagnósticos de Pitiosis con estas correlaciones. Pitiosis fue demostrada dos equinos de zona rural en Puerto Boyacá, Departamento de Boyacá-Colombia. Los equinos presentaron en extremidades lesiones únicas, pruriginosas, ulceradas, granulomatosas, alternada de masas sólidas con secreción serosanguinolenta. De las biopsias los hallazgos anatomopatológicos demostraron masas sólidas de aspecto coralino, las cuales se procesaron histopatológicamente. Los resultados correlacionados de biogeografía, las lesiones halladas en los equinos y en ellas los patrones histopatológicos de Splendore-Hoeplii, con hallazgos de hifas raramente septadas con diámetro de 2,5 a 6,2 micras en ramificación angulada, junto a la secuenciación del DNA extraído y comparado con el depositado para P.insidiosum en el GenBank permitió demostrar en todas las muestras una homología del 100% conformándose por primera vez el diagnóstico definitivo de Pitiosis en Colombia.

Pythium insidiosum is a globally distributed fungus that causes a fungal infection called Pythiosis is considered an emerging disease in humans and animals. A definitive diagnosis involves clinical, epidemiological, histopathological and molecular correlations. There are no reports of Pythiosis diagnosis involving all these correlations in Colombia. In this study were confirmed Phytiosis in two horses in rural area of Puerto Boyaca (Boyaca, Colombia) presenting single,itching, ulcerated, granulomatous lesions on their limbs with serosanguineous suppuration. Biopsies were analyzed pathologically and histopathologically. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was carried out from DNA extracted of paraffin blocks. This study report the first definitive diagnosis of phytiosis in Colombia based on the correlation between biogeography area, the pathological and histopathological findings which included patterns like Splendore-Hoeplii and hyphae with rare septae (2.5 to 6.2 microns diameters of branching angled) along with sequenced DNA that showed 100% homology with the Pythium insidiosum sequence at the GenBank.

Nueva metodología para probar el sistema nervioso autónomo en individuos hipertensos / A new methodology by testing the autonomic system activity in hypertensive individuals

Introducción y objetivo: Actualmente el Sistema Nervioso Autónomo está siendo apuntado como un factor importante en la génesis y desarrollo de la hipertensión arterial sistémica. Por esto, objetivamos estudiar el Sistema Nervioso Autónomo en esta patología, a través de una nueva metodología que utilice la frecuencia cardiaca Metodología: 45 sujetos fueron seleccionados (12 hipertensos y 33 sanos) para verificación de la presión arterial y frecuencia cardiaca a cada latido (2,5 min en reposo y 2,5 min después del ortostatismo). Falsos valores fueron retirados de las series temporales para posterior interpolación, debido a la falta de periodicidad de los latidos cardiacos. Posterior submuestro a 10Hz fue realizado y un filtro que respeta la frecuencia cardiaca fue aplicado. Análisis espectral en las series temporales fue realizado para posterior estimación de medianas y cuartiles. Finalmente, test de hipótesis con Wilcoxon rank sum test para verificar diferencias estadísticas entre grupos fue realizado. Resultados: Las medianas de las potencias porcentuales en las altas frecuencias, pre y post maniobra, de sanos fueron ligeramente inferiores pero no estadísticamente significativas al compararlas con los hipertensos (sanos: 42,69 y 32,39, hipertensos: 46,91 y 33,99). De otro lado, el mismo estimador en las bajas frecuencias fue levemente superior en sanos (sanos: 57,30 y 67,60 e hipertensos: 53,09 y 66). Adicionalmente, la diferencia en la respuesta autonómica de los hipertensos no fue significativa (p>0,01) mientras que en los sanos esto si ocurrió. Conclusiones: El método ha demostrado potencial para identificar disfunción del autónomo en hipertensión. También se confirma una activación del simpático disminuida en sujetos hipertensos cuando se realiza una maniobra ortostática.

Introduction and objective: Currently the Autonomous Nervous System has been considered as an important factor in the genesis and the development of Arterial Systemic Hypertension. Because of that, aimed to study the Autonomous Nervous Sistem in this pathology through a new methodology which uses heart rate. Methodology: 45 subjects were selected (12 hypertensive and 31 healthy) to check the arterial pressure and heart rate beat by beat (2.5 min in rest and 2.5 min after the orthostatism) spurious values were retired from temporal series for interpolation because the lack of heart rate periodicity. Then, sub sampling in 10Hz was realized and a filter that respect the heart rate was applied. Spectral analysis in the temporal series was realized by posterior median and quartile estimation. Finally, hypothesis test with Wilcoxon rank sum test to check statistical differences between groups was performed. Results: The medians of the percentage powers by the high frequencies, pre and post maneuver, in healthy individuals were a few inferior but not with statistical significance when are compared with hypertensive individuals (healthy:42.69 and 32.39; hypertensive:46.91 and 33.99). On the other hand, the same estimator by the low frequencies was a few superior in healthy individuals (healthy: 57.30 and 67.60; hypertensive: 53.09 and 66). Additionally, the difference in the autonomic response between hypertensive individuals was not significative (p>0.01) meanwhile in healthy individuals do. Conclusions: The methodology had demonstrated potential to identify autonomic disfunction in hypertensive. Also, it confirms a lower sympathetic activation in hypertensive individuals when the orthostatic maneuver is done.