Argentatin Content in Guayule Leaves (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray).

Approximately one-third of the waste biomass from the cultivation of guayule (Parthenium argentatum A. Gray) for natural rubber production is leaf tissue; however, whether it can be valorized is not known. Guayulins and argentatins are potential high-value products that can be recovered from guayule resin during rubber/latex processing. Argentatins are highly abundant in guayule stem resin; however, unlike the guayulins, their occurrence in leaves has not been investigated. The present study determined the content of argentatins and isoargentatins A and B in the leaves of a pure guayule accession (R1040) and two hybrids (CAL-1 and AZ-2) under conditions of irrigation and non-irrigation. The resin content in leaves was ~10%, which provides a suitable starting point for economic exploitation. The highest production of argentatins occurred in plants under irrigation, with yields of 4.2 and 3.6 kg ha-1 for R1040 and AZ-2, respectively. The R1040 accession had the highest percentage of resin and the greatest total argentatin content (24.5 g kg-1 dried leaf), principally due to the abundance of argentatin A. Contrastingly, CAL-1 consistently showed the lowest argentatin content based on dried leaf weight and production (0.6 kg ha-1). The substantial abundance of argentatins in guayule leaves suggests the potential for future exploitation.

Preliminary Studies on Endotherapy Based Application of Ozonated Water to Bobal Grapevines: Effect on Wine Quality.

The application of ozonated water in the vineyard is an increasingly popular tool for disease management, but the quality of grapes and resulting wines is likely to be affected. Endotherapy, or trunk injection, is a particularly useful method to apply phytosanitary products since many fungal pathogens colonize the grapevine woody tissues. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect on wine quality of the ozonated water applied to Bobal grapevines, one of the most cultivated red varieties in Spain, through endotherapy (E) or its combination with spraying (E + S). Endotherapy was carried out four times before harvest for both E and E + S treatments, and spraying was performed 2 days before and after each endotherapy application. Grapes were harvested, vinified, and the quality of the finished wines was evaluated through several enological parameters and the phenolic and volatile composition. Both treatments resulted in less alcoholic and more acidic wines. The E treatment, although it reduced the content of phenolic acids, stilbenes and flavanols, significantly increased anthocyanins, whereas E + S decreased the overall amount of phenolics, which had different implications for wine colour. In terms of aroma, both treatments, but E to a greater extent, reduced the content of glycosylated precursors and differentially affected free volatiles, both varietal and fermentative. Thus, the dose of ozonated water, frequency and/or method of application are determining factors in the effect of these treatments on wine quality and must be carefully considered by winegrowers to establish the optimum treatment conditions so as not to impair the quality of wines.

Biopesticide Activity of Guayule Resin.

The extensive use of synthetic pesticides has created considerable concern for both human health and the environment, which has prompted the search for safer alternatives, such as the resin of guayule (Parthenium argentatum). Thus, in the present study, we aimed to test the biopesticide activity of crude guayule resin and three derived fractions and compare them to reference products that act against four of the most economically significant plant pests: Tetranychus urticae, Bemisia tabaci, Myzus persicae and Frankliniella occidentalis. None of the guayule products caused plant damage. The crude guayule resin and the hexane and ethyl acetate fractions displayed moderate to high contact mortality against T. urticae and B. tabaci, as well as moderate to high antifeedant activity against T. urticae, B. tabaci and M. persicae. No significant activity was observed against F. occidentalis. A correlation analysis of the activity and fraction composition revealed that guayulins C and D, isoargentatins A and B, argentatins A, B and D and an unknown compound C6 were likely responsible for the contact mortality. By contrast, the antifeedant activity appeared to be caused by guayulins A and B against T. urticae and B. tabaci and by guayulins C and D and argentatin B against M. persicae. The feeding reduction in F. occidentalis was associated with an unknown compound C2 and argentatin C. Therefore, guayule appears to be a promising novel biopesticide.

Understanding toxicological implications of accidents with caterpillars Megalopyge lanata and Podalia orsilochus (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae)

Megalopygids Megalopyge lanata and Podalia orsilochus are common causative agents of accidents in agricultural workers. These accidents are provoked by dermal contact at their larval stage and are characterized by cutaneous reactions, such as burning pain, edema and erythema, typically mild and self-limited. There is very little information about their venoms and their toxicological implications on human health. Thus, we employed proteomic techniques and biological assays to characterize venoms (bristle extracts) from caterpillars of both species collected from Misiones, Argentina. The electrophoretic profiles of both venoms were substantially different, and they presented proteins related to toxicity, such as serinepeptidases, serpins and lectins. P. orsilochus venom exhibited higher caseinolytic activity than M. lanata venom, agreeing with the fact that only P. orsilochus venom hydrolyzed human fibrin(ogen). In addition, the latter shortened the clotting time triggered by calcium. While the venom of M. lanata induced a mild inflammatory lesion in mouse skin, P. orsilochus venom caused prominent necrosis, inflammatory infiltration and hemorrhage at the site of venom injection. On the other hand, P. orsilochus venom was better recognized by Lonomia obliqua antivenom, although many of its proteins could not be cross-reacted, what may explain the difference in the clinical manifestations between accidents by Podalia and those by Lonomia. Altogether, this study provides relevant information about the pathophysiological mechanisms whereby both caterpillars can induce toxicity on human beings, and paves the way for novel discovery of naturally occurring bioactive compounds.

Understanding toxicological implications of accidents with caterpillars Megalopyge lanata and Podalia orsilochus (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae)

Megalopygids Megalopyge lanata and Podalia orsilochus are common causative agents of accidents in agricultural workers. These accidents are provoked by dermal contact at their larval stage and are characterized by cutaneous reactions, such as burning pain, edema and erythema, typically mild and self-limited. There is very little information about their venoms and their toxicological implications on human health. Thus, we employed proteomic techniques and biological assays to characterize venoms (bristle extracts) from caterpillars of both species collected from Misiones, Argentina. The electrophoretic profiles of both venoms were substantially different, and they presented proteins related to toxicity, such as serinepeptidases, serpins and lectins. P. orsilochus venom exhibited higher caseinolytic activity than M. lanata venom, agreeing with the fact that only P. orsilochus venom hydrolyzed human fibrin(ogen). In addition, the latter shortened the clotting time triggered by calcium. While the venom of M. lanata induced a mild inflammatory lesion in mouse skin, P. orsilochus venom caused prominent necrosis, inflammatory infiltration and hemorrhage at the site of venom injection. On the other hand, P. orsilochus venom was better recognized by Lonomia obliqua antivenom, although many of its proteins could not be cross-reacted, what may explain the difference in the clinical manifestations between accidents by Podalia and those by Lonomia. Altogether, this study provides relevant information about the pathophysiological mechanisms whereby both caterpillars can induce toxicity on human beings, and paves the way for novel discovery of naturally occurring bioactive compounds.

Stinging caterpillars from the genera Podalia, Leucanella and Lonomia in Misiones, Argentina: A preliminary comparative approach to understand their toxicity.

Dermal contact with Lepidoptera specimens at their larval stage (caterpillar) may cause systemic and/or local envenomation. There are multiple venomous species of them in Argentina, but their overall venom composition is poorly known. Lately, several cases of envenomation have been reported in the Misiones province, Northeastern Argentina. Thus, this work aimed to compare the protein composition, and the enzymatic properties of bristle extracts from caterpillars belonging to the families Megalopygidae (Podalia ca. fuscescens) and Saturniidae (Leucanella memusae and Lonomia obliqua) - the most common causative agents of accidents in Misiones -, and additionally to test their cross-reactivity with the L. obliqua antivenom produced in Brazil. Saturniidae venoms exhibited striking similarity in both their electrophoretic protein profile, and antigenic cross-reactivity. All venoms degraded azocasein - with the highest proteolytic activity observed in the P. ca. fuscescens bristle extract -, and hyaluronic acid, but the latter at low levels. Lonomia obliqua venom exhibited the highest level of phospholipase A2 activity. Bristle extracts from P. ca. fuscescens and L. obliqua both degraded human fibrin(ogen) and shortened the clotting time triggered by calcium, while L. memusae venom inhibited plasma coagulation. Proteins related to the coagulation disturbance were identified by mass spectrometry in all samples. Altogether, our findings show for the first time a comparative biotoxinological analysis of three genera of caterpillars with medical relevance. Moreover, this study provides relevant information about the pathophysiological mechanisms whereby these caterpillar bristle extracts can induce toxicity on human beings, and gives insight into future directions for research on them.

Characterization of free nitrogen fixing bacteria of the genus Azotobacter in organic vegetable-grown Colombian soils

With the purpose of isolating and characterizing free nitrogen fixing bacteria (FNFB) of the genus Azotobacter, soil samples were collected randomly from different vegetable organic cultures with neutral pH in different zones of Boyacá-Colombia. Isolations were done in selective free nitrogen Ashby-Sucrose agar obtaining a recovery of 40 percent. Twenty four isolates were evaluated for colony and cellular morphology, pigment production and metabolic activities. Molecular characterization was carried out using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). After digestion of 16S rDNA Y1-Y3 PCR products (1487pb) with AluI, HpaII and RsaI endonucleases, a polymorphism of 16 percent was obtained. Cluster analysis showed three main groups based on DNA fingerprints. Comparison between ribotypes generated by isolates and in silico restriction of 16S rDNA partial sequences with same restriction enzymes was done with Gen Workbench v.2.2.4 software. Nevertheless, Y1-Y2 PCR products were analysed using BLASTn. Isolate C5T from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) grown soils presented the same in silico restriction patterns with A. chroococcum (AY353708) and 99 percent of similarity with the same sequence. Isolate C5CO from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) grown soils showed black pigmentation in Ashby-Benzoate agar and high similarity (91 percent) with A. nigricans (AB175651) sequence. In this work we demonstrated the utility of molecular techniques and bioinformatics tools as a support to conventional techniques in characterization of the genus Azotobacter from vegetable-grown soils.

Characterization of free nitrogen fixing bacteria of the genus Azotobacter in organic vegetable-grown Colombian soils.

With the purpose of isolating and characterizing free nitrogen fixing bacteria (FNFB) of the genus Azotobacter, soil samples were collected randomly from different vegetable organic cultures with neutral pH in different zones of Boyacá-Colombia. Isolations were done in selective free nitrogen Ashby-Sucrose agar obtaining a recovery of 40%. Twenty four isolates were evaluated for colony and cellular morphology, pigment production and metabolic activities. Molecular characterization was carried out using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). After digestion of 16S rDNA Y1-Y3 PCR products (1487pb) with AluI, HpaII and RsaI endonucleases, a polymorphism of 16% was obtained. Cluster analysis showed three main groups based on DNA fingerprints. Comparison between ribotypes generated by isolates and in silico restriction of 16S rDNA partial sequences with same restriction enzymes was done with Gen Workbench v.2.2.4 software. Nevertheless, Y1-Y2 PCR products were analysed using BLASTn. Isolate C5T from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) grown soils presented the same in silico restriction patterns with A. chroococcum (AY353708) and 99% of similarity with the same sequence. Isolate C5CO from cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) grown soils showed black pigmentation in Ashby-Benzoate agar and high similarity (91%) with A. nigricans (AB175651) sequence. In this work we demonstrated the utility of molecular techniques and bioinformatics tools as a support to conventional techniques in characterization of the genus Azotobacter from vegetable-grown soils.

Clotting, immune system, and venous thrombosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients: a prospective study.

Thrombosis is highly prevalent in cancer patients, being accepted as a bad prognosis marker. The importance of various mechanisms involved in the thrombophilic state of lung cancer patients is not well understood. In this prospective study, involving 109 unselected patients with lung adenocarcinoma, thrombosis was present in 24% of patients and affected survival in a bivariable model. However, in a multivariable evaluation, considering all the factors under study, only LAC and IgM anti-beta(2) GP I modified thrombosis risk, whereas in a Kaplan-Meyer regression model, thrombosis, IL-6, LAC, factor VIII, and IgM anti-beta(2) GP I interfered with patient's survival.

Estudo comparativo do retorno da força da pinça após o tratamento da síndrome do túnel do carpo crônica associado a oponentoplastia / Comparative study of pinch power return after chronic carpal tunnel release associated with opponensplasty

A oposição do polegar é um importante e complexo movimento da mão, realizado por meio da musculatura tênar, que recebe inervação do nervo mediano, permitindo a realização do movimento de pinça, força e sensibilidade. O objetivo deste trabalho é comparar a força de pinça e grau de oponência do polegar, no pré e pós-operatório em 10 pacientes com síndrome do túnel do carpo crônica, hipotrofia da musculatura tênar e diminuição da força de pinça, que foram selecionados no nosso ambulatório de cirurgia da mão, e submetidos a cirurgia de oponentoplastia pela técnica de Camitz. Todos os pacientes evoluíram satisfatoriamente com rápido retorno as suas atividades cotidianas.

Thumb opponency is a complex and important hand’s movement, realized by the thenar muscle wich is innervated by the median nerve, providing it of sensibility, strength and the ability to do the pinch movement. The goal of this work is to compare the pinch strength and the degrees of opponency before and after the surgery in 10 patients with chronical carpal tunnel’s syndrome, hypotrophic thenar muscle and weakness of pinch’s movement, wich were selected in our hand’s surgery ambulatory center and submitted to an opponensplasty Thumb surgery using the Camitz technique. All the patients had a faster and satisfactory evolution with an amazing comeback to their quotidian activities.

Presencia de rotavirus durante un proceso de compostaje. Abonos como vectores de contaminación viral / Rotavirus presence in a waste composting process. Organic fertilizers as vehicles for viral contamination / Presença de rotavírus durante um processo de compostagem. Adubos como vetores de contaminação viral

Objetivo: Demostrar la presencia de Rotavirus en las diferentes fases de un proceso de compostaje: matrices utilizadas como materia prima, mezcla a compostar y producto terminado. Materiales y métodos. El Rotavirus se determinó durante los tres procesos de compostaje. La detección viral se realizó por inmunocromatografía, ELISA y RT- PCR. Resultados. Se evidenció presencia viral en el primer proceso de compostaje, ausencia viral en el segundo y en el tercer proceso de compostaje, se presentaron interferencias que dificultaron interpretar los resultados de la PCR, lo cual impidió llegar a un resultado concluyente de su presencia en el abono. Conclusiones. Los abonos orgánicos pueden ser portadores de virus motivo por el cual se deben implementar pruebas de calidad para evitar que este material contribuya con la diseminación viral. Dentro de estos abonos existen sustancias capaces de interferir en las pruebas de detección.

Objective. To show the presence of rotavirus in different stages of a composting process: matrices used as raw material, mixture to be composted and the final product. Materials and methods. Immunochromatography, ELISA and RT-PCR were used for viral detection. Results. Rotavirus was found in the first composting step, no virus was found in the second step, and some inhibitory substances were found in the third step that posed difficulties in interpreting the PCR results and therefore providing a concluding result on rotavirus presence in the final product. Conclusions. Organic fertilizers can be vectors of human pathogenic viruses; therefore quality control tests must be implemented to avoid further viral dissemination. There are inhibitory substances present in organic fertilizers capable of interfering with the detection tests.

Objetivo. Demonstrar a presença de Rotavírus nas diferentes fases de um processo de compostagem: matrizes utilizadas como matéria-prima, mistura de composto e produto final. Materiais e métodos: A determinação do Rotavírus foi realizada nos três processos de compostagem. A detecção viral foi realizada por imunocromatografia, ELISA e RT-PCR. Resultados. Evidenciou-se a presença viral no primeiro processo de compostagem, ausência de vírus no segundo, e no terceiro processo de compostagem, apresentaram-se interferências que dificultaram a interpre tação dos resultados da PCR, tornando impossível chegar a um resultado conclusivo de sua presença no adubo. Conclusões. Os adubos orgânicos podem abrigar o vírus é por isso que se devem implementar provas de qualidade para evitar que esse material contribuía com a disseminação viral. Dentro desses fertilizantes existem substâncias capazes de interferir nas provas de detecção.

Niveles de actividad física, beneficios, barreras y autoeficacia en un grupo de empleados oficiales / Levels of physical activity, benefits, barriers and self efficiency in a group of civil servants / Níveis de atividade física, benefícios, barreiras e auto-eficácia em um grupo de empregados oficias

Objetivo: determinar la relación entre el nivel de actividadfísica y la percepción de los beneficios, las barreras y la autoeficaciaen un grupo de empleados de 18 a 65 años con factoresde riesgo cardiovascular.Método: estudio de tipo cuantitativo, descriptivo, correlacional.Para evaluar la actividad física se utilizó el CuestionarioInternacional de Actividad Física (IPAQ) versión larga y parala evaluación de la escala de barreras, beneficios y autoeficaciase empleó el cuestionario de Nola Pender (EBBS).Muestra: conformada por 243 empleados.Resultados: el 65,8% de los empleados eran activos físicamente,los hombres 70,9% y las mujeres 61,7%. Se encontróuna correlación negativa entre METS y autoeficacia y beneficiosde la actividad física; no se evidencia correlación entre actividadfísica y barreras.Conclusiones: los hombres son más activos físicamenteque las mujeres, los niveles de actividad física se elevan con laedad y disminuyen cuando aumenta el nivel educativo. La percepciónde los beneficios de la actividad física en las personassedentarias fue mayor que en personas físicamente activas.

DETERMINACIÓN DE Salmonella Typhimurium EN COMPOST INOCULADO ARTIFICIALMENTE EMPLEADO EN UN CULTIVO DE LECHUGA / Salmonella Typhimurium determination in compost artificially inoculated in a lettuce crop

Salmonella enterica serovariedad Typhimurium, se ha asociado a brotes por el consumo de frutas y vegetales contaminadas a partir de agua de riego, manipuladores, bioabono y suelo. En esta investigación se inoculó artificialmente un bioabono aplicado a un cultivo de lechuga para determinar la capacidad de transferencia a las plantas, así como establecer el efecto del uso de cubiertas de polietileno en la protección del cultivo frente a este patógeno. Para ello, se utilizaron plántulas de lechuga de ocho semanas y se establecieron cuatro tratamientos y dos controles: T1 y T2, con y sin cubierta de polietileno respectivamente, contenían una concentración de Salmonella enterica Serovariedad Typhimurium ATCC 13176 inoculada en el compost en concentración de 0,04 mo/g, T3 y T4 con y sin cubierta de polietileno respectivamente con 100 mo/g de compost y finalmente C1 y C2 con y sin cubierta pero sin inoculación. El seguimiento del microorganismo en suelo se realizó durante las ocho semanas del cultivo, mediante la técnica de NMP/4 g (EPA, 2006) al cabo de este tiempo se evaluó el total de plantas cultivadas mediante la misma técnica. Se determinó que Salmonella enterica serovariedad Typhimurium ATCC 13176 se transmite a la lechuga, a partir del bioabono contaminado (OR=2,53) sin importar la concentración inicial del microorganismo en el bioabono; así mismo se encontró que existe asociación entre la contaminación y la condición de cubierta del cultivo (p=0,002). Por otra parte, al analizar las raíces no se encontró asociación de transmisión.

Salmonella enterica serovariedad Typhimurium, has been associated with outbreaks because of the ingestion of fruits and vegetables and those outbreaks have been related due to contamination sources like irrigation water, farm workers influence and the soil itself. In this investigation it was artificially inoculated in a compost and later applied to a lettuce crop, in order to determine the transfer capacity of this microorganism to the plants, as well as to establish if the polyethylene cover protected the crop. In this study, four treatments were made with two controls, T1 and T2 - with and without polyethylene cover - these treatments and controls were inoculated with Salmonella enterica Serovariedad Typhimurium ATCC 13176 0,04 mo/g de compost, T3 y T4 - with and without polyethylene cover - each one with 100 mo/g de compost, and finally C1 and C2 - with and without polyethylene cover -, but without inoculation. At 8 weeks the microorganism was determine by the MPN/4g technique (EPA, 2006). Salmonella enterica serovariedad Typhimurium ATCC 13176 is capable to transfer itself to the lettuce, through the contaminated compost (OR=2.53) regardless of microorganism concentration in the compost, and there was an association between the contamination and the crop cover condition (p=0.002). The analysis of the roots and the irrigation water, demonstrated that it does not exist any transference association.

Programa de reentrenamiento en diálisis peritoneal ambulatoria / Retraining program in ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Con el fin de evaluar la influencia de un programa de reentrenamiento de los conocimientos teoricoprácticos del recambiodel líquido peritoneal en pacientes con diálisis peritoneal de la unidad renal del hospital San Carlos, se llevó a cabo el presenteestudio en 35 pacientes, con edades de 18 a 76 años y con un tiempo en el programa de diálisis peritoneal ambulatoriacontinua (CAPD) mayor de dos meses.Es un estudio descriptivo, cuantitativo, cuasiexperimental y longitudinal. Se aplicaron dos instrumentos, un cuestionariopara evaluar los conocimientos teóricos y una lista de comprobación para evaluar la técnica del recambio peritoneal.Los instrumentos se aplicaron antes y después del programa de reentrenamiento.Al aplicar los primeros se observó que el 55% de los pacientes tienen buenos conocimientos teoricoprácticos del recambioperitoneal, un 26% demostró una práctica regular y solo un 3% deficiencias en la teoría; con base en estos resultados sevió la necesidad de reforzar estos conocimientos a través de un programa, reentrenando a los 35 pacientes.Después del programa de reentrenamiento se observó el cambio en los conocimientos teoricoprácticos, desapareciendo elrango deficiente en la evaluación de los conocimientos teóricos y disminuyendo el regular en la práctica en un 50%.Para el análisis de los datos estadísticos se emplearon los programas SPSS y Excel, utilizando tablas y gráficas de cajas.Se concluyó que el programa de reentrenamiento influyó en forma positiva en los conocimientos teoricoprácticos del recambioperitoneal ya que los pacientes modificaron sus comportamientos mejorando las categorías de bueno y excelente.