Green Extraction Methods for Recovery of Antioxidant Compounds from Epicarp, Seed, and Seed Tegument of Avocado var. Hass (Persea americana Mill.).

The present study compared the extracts obtained from the epicarp, seed, and seed tegument of avocado var. Hass with pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). The extracts were quantified in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AC). The PLE extracts had a global yield (X 0) like that obtained with UAE using ethanol (Et) as the solvent. For the TPC, the extracts obtained with both techniques showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the epicarp extracts obtained with PLE had higher values for AC: 829.8 µmol TE/gDe (ABTS) and 3,215.1 µmol Fe2+/g De (FRAP), recorded for UAE/Et. The AC in the avocado residue extracted with PLE suggested a high potential for applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetology products.

Differential placental ceramide levels during gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with important factors that influence fetal development. Sphingolipids are known to be associated with the development of diabetes. Our objective was to examine ceramide, a key sphingolipid, hyperosmolarity, and apoptosis in placentas from GDM patients treated with insulin or diet. METHODS: Ceramide levels were assessed in placental tissues using immunohistochemistry. Immunoblot was performed to quantify serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in ceramide biosynthesis, NFAT5, SMIT, AR, caspase 3 and the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis. Trophoblast cells were treated with insulin or ceramide and assessments for mitochondrial respiration, caspase 3 and XIAP were also performed. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry showed increased ceramides in the placental villous trophoblasts of the insulin-treated GDM patients. Nuclear SPT was upregulated only in the insulin-treated GDM placenta when compared to controls. Nuclear NFAT5 was also increased in the GDM placenta. Active caspase 3 was elevated in placentas from both insulin- and diet-treated GDM patients. Mitochondrial respiration was decreased in trophoblasts treated with ceramide. Active caspase was not changed while XIAP protein was increased in trophoblasts treated with ceramide. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the presence of ceramide in the human placenta of control and GDM patients. Furthermore, we conclude that ceramide is increased in the placental trophoblast during insulin treatment and that its upregulation correlates with elevated NFAT5, SMIT, increased apoptosis and decreased trophoblast mitochondrial respiration.

Valoración de la calidad de prescripción de transfusión sanguínea en un hospital de alta complejidad en la región Lambayeque / Evaluation of the quality of blood transfusion prescriptions in a high-complexity hospital in Lambayeque region

Objetivo: Valorar la calidad de la prescripción en las transfusiones sanguíneas realizadas y conocer los principales diagnósticos por los que se prescribió una transfusión sanguínea en un hospital de Alta Complejidad de la región Lambayeque. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio transversal. Se evaluaron 298 prescripciones de transfusiones sanguíneas efectivizadas, que fueron seleccionadas mediante aleatorización estratificada por departamento hospitalario. Se valoró la calidad de la prescripción en base al cumplimiento de la Guía de Indicaciones Adecuadas de Componentes Sanguíneos del Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins. Se revisó las historias clínicas para obtener información necesaria para el llenado de la ficha de recolección y mediante estadística descriptiva se obtuvieron frecuencias y porcentajes acerca de la calidad de prescripción de transfusión sanguínea. Resultados: El 26,5% de las prescripciones sanguíneas en general se valoraron como inadecuadas [IC95%: 21,7 - 31,3]. El hemocomponente con mayor valoración de calidad inadecuada fue el plasma fresco congelado (52,6% [IC95%: 35,4% - 69,8%]), mientras que se encontró una menor proporción de calidad inadecuada en las solicitudes de crioprecipitado (20,0% [IC95%: 0,5%-71,6%]). Según departamento hospitalario, el departamento de Medicina obtuvo la mayor proporción de prescripciones inadecuadas (36,0%), seguido del departamento de Anestesiología (29,4%) y de Gineco-obstetricia (27,3%). Conclusiones: La calidad de prescripción de transfusión sanguínea se valoró como inadecuada en el 26,5%, siendo mayor en el Departamento de Medicina, y en las solicitudes de plasma fresco congelado.

Objective: To assess the quality of blood transfusion prescriptions and to verify the main diagnoses for prescribing blood transfusions in a high complexity hospital in Lambayeque region. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. We assessed 298 blood transfusion prescriptions, which were selected using stratified randomization by hospital areas. Prescription quality was assessed based on compliance with the Guide for Appropriate Indications of Blood Components from Edgardo Rebagliati-Martins Hospital. Clinical records were reviewed aiming to obtain the information required for filling the data collection form. Descriptive statistics was used for obtaining rate regarding quality of blood transfusion prescriptions. Results: Roughly one-quarter (26.5%) of blood transfusion prescriptions were deemed as inadequate [95% CI: 21.7-31.3]. The blood product with the highest inadequate quality rate was frozen plasma (52.6% [95% CI: 35.4% - 69.8%]), while cryoprecipitate requests had the lowest rate of inadequate quality in its prescriptions (20.0% [95% IC: 0.5% -71.6%]). When different hospital areas were assessed, the general medicine department had the highest rate of inadequate quality of blood transfusion prescriptions (36.0%), followed by anesthesiology (29.4%) and gynecology & obstetrics (27.3%) departments. Conclusions: The quality of blood transfusion prescriptions was found to be inadequate in 26.5% of all cases, and the highest inadequacy rates were found in the general medicine department and in frozen plasma requests.

A Systematic Approach to Discover and Characterize Natural Plant Biostimulants.

The use of natural plant biostimulants is proposed as an innovative solution to address the challenges to sustainable agriculture, to ensure optimal nutrient uptake, crop yield, quality, and tolerance to abiotic stress. However, the process of selection and characterization of plant biostimulant matrices is complex and involves a series of rigorous evaluations customized to the needs of the plant. Here, we propose a highly differentiated plant biostimulant development and production platform, which involves a combination of technology, processes, and know-how. Chemistry, biology and omic concepts are combined/integrated to investigate and understand the specific mode(s) of action of bioactive ingredients. The proposed approach allows to predict and characterize the function of natural compounds as biostimulants. By managing and analyzing massive amounts of complex data, it is therefore possible to discover, evaluate and validate new product candidates, thus expanding the uses of existing products to meet the emerging needs of agriculture.

'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' Strains Associated with Oil Palm Lethal Wilt in Colombia.

The distribution of lethal wilt, a severe disease of oil palm, is spreading throughout South America. An incidence of about 30% was recorded in four commercial fields in Colombia. In this study, phytoplasmas were detected in symptomatic oil palm by using specific primers, based on 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences, in nested polymerase chain reaction assays. The phytoplasmas were then identified as 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris', ribosomal subgroup 16SrI-B, through the use of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and sequencing. Cloning and sequencing of 16S rDNA from selected strains, together with phylogenetic analysis, confirmed the classification. Moreover, collective RFLP characterization of the groEL, amp, and rp genes, together with sequence data, distinguished the aster yellows strain detected in Colombian oil-palm samples from other aster yellows phytoplasmas used as reference strains; in particular, from an aster yellows strain infecting corn in the same country.

Characterization of a Phytoplasma Associated with Frogskin Disease in Cassava.

Cassava frogskin disease (CFSD) is an economically important root disease of cassava (Manihot esculenta) in Colombia and other South American countries, including Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Costa Rica, and Panama. The roots of severely affected plants are thin, making them unsuitable for consumption. In Colombia, phytoplasma infections were confirmed in 35 of 39 genotypes exhibiting mild or severe CFSD symptoms either by direct or nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays employing ribosomal (r)RNA operon primer pairs. The CFSD-associated phytoplasmas were identified as group 16SrIII strains by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequence analyses of amplified rDNA products, and results were corroborated by PCRs employing group 16SrIII-specific rRNA gene or ribosomal protein (rp) gene primers. Collectively, RFLP analyses indicated that CFSD strains differed from all phytoplasmas described previously in group 16SrIII and, on this basis, the strains were tentatively assigned to new ribosomal and ribosomal protein subgroups 16SrIII-L and rpIII-H, respectively. This is the first molecular identification of a phytoplasma associated with CFSD in cassava in Colombia.

Detection and Identification of a Group 16SrIII-Related Phytoplasma Associated with Coffee Crispiness Disease in Colombia.

Coffee crispiness ("crespera"), a disease of uncertain etiology, has been endemic in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) plantations in Colombia for at least 60 years. Symptoms typically consist of bud proliferation, abundant short and narrow leaves, phyllody, floral abortion, monospermic fruit, and dwarfing of plants. In severe cases, coffee crispiness disease (CCD) can affect production significantly. In this study, association of a phytoplasma with CCD was indicated by the accumulation of Diene's stain, or 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole fluorescence, only in phloem of affected plant tissues. The presence of polymorphic phytoplasma cells in phloem sieve tube elements was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The disease was transmitted successfully by grafting symptomatic shoots from CCD-affected C. arabica plants onto young, healthy rootstocks; however, symptoms failed to develop after mechanical inoculation of young plants with extracts derived from diseased plant tissues. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay employing primer pairs P1/P7 followed by FU5/rU3 amplified a 16S ribosomal DNA product (941 bp) exclusively from DNA of diseased plants. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the nested PCR product identified the CCD phytoplasma as a new strain member of group 16SrIII (X-disease group). This is the first report of a phytoplasma infecting coffee plants.

Evaluación de una serie de pacientes con atresia del esófago, durante un período de 5 años / Evaluation of a series of patients with esophageal atresia, during a 5- year period

En un período de 5 años comprendido entre el 1 de enero de 1997 y el 31 de diciembre de 2001 se presentaron 73 pacientes con atresia del esófago los cuales fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente. La edad gestacional promedio fue 37 semanas y el peso promedio al nacer, 2.458 gramos; el 88 por ciento de estos pacientes tuvieron atresia esofágica con fístula traqueoesofágica distal y el 11 por ciento no presentaron fístula. El tratamiento quirúrgico en la mayoría de los pacientes fue la resección de la fístula con anastomosis primaria del esófago y se realizaron ascensos gástricos en 3 neonatos con atresia del esófago sin fístula con cabos muy separados.Durante el período de estudio no se presentaron complicaciones intraoperatorias.La complicación postquirúrgica más frecuente fue la estenosis que se evidenció en 27 casos. La sobrevida global al período neonatal fue del 83 por ciento. La frecuencia de neumonía antes de llevar los pacientes a cirugía fue del 63 por ciento y tuvo relación con la edad en días al momento de la cirugía. La mortalidad de nuestros pacientes se encontró asociada con el peso al nacer y la presencia de otras malformaciones congénitas.Se concluyó que esta serie de pacientes tiene las mismas características descritas en la literatura mundial y que el tratamiento quirúrgico que les hemos dado ha tenido un éxito semejante al obtenido en otros lugares del mundo.