RESUMO
Argentina has one of the highest prevalence in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and the high rate of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in the world. Though preventive steps such as food safety have been implemented as a way to reduce STEC infections, these have proven to be insufficient. STEC's pathogenesis, virulence factors, relationship with the environment, and emerging strains have been studied in the past few years in the country. Many factors that contribute to the morbidity and mortality of STEC infections include the expression of pathologic genes, alternative characteristics (inhibition of phagocytosis, invasion, cytotoxicity, and bacterial attachment), and host factors (age, immune status, treatments, medical history). However, research studies in combination with epidemiological data suggest trends of the prognosis, with the relationship between and genetic combinations of adherence, Shiga toxin (Stx) genes, and virulence genes, which significantly influence disease outcomes. This review explains the characteristics and epidemiology of STEC in Argentina. All these facts show that the application of molecular subtyping techniques in real-time is essential for detecting and controlling outbreaks. Applying molecular subtyping techniques in hemorrhagic diarrhea can avoid severe consequences caused by progression to HUS, and help the epidemiological analysis of the outbreak.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) refers to a group of common metabolic disorders that share the phenotype of hyperglycemia, which causes secondary pathophysiological changes in multiple organ systems. Several times the Plantaginaceae family have been reported as crude drugs with hypoglycemic effect mainly attributed to their high fiber content [5]. Objective: The current study was hypothesized to investigate the beneficial effects of methanol extract from the aerial part of Plantago major (Pm) on hyperglycemia-mediated oxidative stress and inflammatory responses Alloxan induced diabetes mellitus, and in normal rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 100mg/kg body weight Alloxan. Normal and Diabetic rats were administered with distilled water, methanol extract of Plantago major and glibenclamide, and then, compared in Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). RESULTS: Methanol extract of P. major was evaluated in OGTT in either normal or moderate or severe Alloxan induced diabetic rats (100 mg / kg -by intraperitoneal injection-). Oral administration of methanol extracts at doses of 500mg/kg body weight showed that the extract promotes glucose uptake in rats with the efficient insulin-secreting pancreas secreting pancreas (that have pancreatic cells capable of secreting insulin). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that Plantago major exerts antidiabetic activity by stimulating secretion of insulin and producing a hypoglycemic effect. These results suggest that the methanol extract from the entire Pm plant will be useful in the treatment of patients with impaired glucose tolerance.
