Functional, immunological characterization, and anticancer activity of BaMtx: A new Lys49- PLA2 homologue isolated from the venom of Peruvian Bothrops atrox snake (Serpentes: Viperidae).

Bothorps atrox is responsible for most of the ophidism cases in Perú. As part of the envenoming, myotoxicity is one of the most recurrent and destructive effects. In this study, a myotoxin, named BaMtx, was purified from B. atrox venom to elucidate its biological, immunological, and molecular characteristics. BaMtx was purified using CM-Sephadex-C-25 ion-exchange resin and SDS-PAGE analysis showed a unique protein band of 13 kDa or 24 kDa under reducing or non-reducing conditions, respectively. cDNA sequence codified a 122-aa mature protein with high homology with other Lys49-PLA2s; modeled structure showed a N-terminal helix, a ß-wing region, and a C-terminal random coil. This protein has a poor phospholipase A2 enzymatic activity. BaMtx has myotoxic (DMM = 12.30 ± 0.95 µg) and edema-forming (DEM = 26.00 ± 1.15 µg) activities. Rabbit immunization with purified enzyme produced anti-BaMtx antibodies that reduced 50.28 ± 10.15% of myotoxic activity and showed significant cross-reactivity against B. brazili and B pictus venoms. On the other hand, BaMtx exhibits mild anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects on breast cancer cells, affecting the ROS and NADH levels, which may reduce mitochondrial respiration. These results contribute to the understanding of B. atrox Lys49-PLA2 effects and establish the anticancer potential de BaMtx.

CBCT study of root apices distance to mandibular canal in peruvian population

The purpose of this study was to compare the average distances from the root apices of the first molars, second molars, and second premolars to the mandibular canal according to sex in the Peruvian population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Eighty CBCT scans of Peruvian patients aged from 15-80 years were examined. After locating the mandibular canal, measurements of the vertical distances from the mandibular canal to the apices of the second premolars, as well as the first molars and second molars, were made. For the statistical analysis, Student's t test was used for both paired and unpaired samples, with a significance level of p0.05) between the distances from the apices of the second premolars and the first and second molars to the mandibular canal. However, for the second premolars and second molars on the left side, the values were higher, with averages of 5.52mm and 3.75mm, respectively. The mesial roots of the second molars were closer to the mandibular canal. In addition, women showed shorter distances than men.

El propósito de este estudio fue comparar las distancias promedio desde los ápices radiculares de primeros molares, segundos molares y segundos premolares al canal mandibular según sexo en la población peruana mediante tomografía computarizada de haz cónico (TCHC). Se examinaron 80 tomografías CBCT de pacientes peruanos con edades comprendidas entre los 15 y 80 años. Luego de ubicar el canal mandibular, se realizaron mediciones de las distancias verticales desde el canal mandibular hasta el ápice de los segundos premolares mandibulares, así como de los primeros molares y segundos molares. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó la prueba t de Student para muestras pareadas y no pareadas con un nivel de significación de p0.05) entre las distancias desde los ápices de los segundos premolares mandibulares y los primeros y segundos molares al canal mandibular. Sin embargo, para los segundos premolares y segundos molares en el lado izquierdo, los valores fueron más altos con un promedio de 5,52mm y 3,75mm, respectivamente. Las raíces mesiales de los segundos molares estaban más cerca del canal mandibular. Además, las mujeres mostraron distancias más cortas que los hombres.

Chemical Characterization and Determination of the Anti-Oxidant Capacity of Two Brown Algae with Respect to Sampling Season and Morphological Structures Using Infrared Spectroscopy and Multivariate Analyses.

Brown algae biomass has been shown to be a highly important industrial source for the production of alginates and different nutraceutical products. The characterization of this biomass is necessary in order to allocate its use to specific applications according to the chemical and biological characteristics of this highly variable resource. The methods commonly used for algae characterization require a long time for the analysis and rigorous pretreatments of samples. In this work, nondestructive and fast analyses of different morphological structures from Lessonia spicata and Macrocystis pyrifera, which were collected during different seasons, were performed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques in combination with chemometric methods. Mid-infrared (IR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectral ranges were tested to evaluate the spectral differences between the species, seasons, and morphological structures of algae using a principal component analysis (PCA). Quantitative analyses of the polyphenol and alginate contents and the anti-oxidant capacity of the samples were performed using partial least squares (PLS) with both spectral ranges in order to build a predictive model for the rapid quantification of these parameters with industrial purposes. The PCA mainly showed differences in the samples based on seasonal sampling, where changes were observed in the bands corresponding to polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids. The obtained PLS models had high correlation coefficients (r) for the polyphenol content and anti-oxidant capacity (r > 0.9) and lower values for the alginate determination (0.7 < r < 0.8). Fourier transform infrared-based techniques were suitable tools for the rapid characterization of algae biomass, in which high variability in the samples was incorporated for the qualitative and quantitative analyses, and have the potential to be used on an industrial scale.

Stereotypes and valuations of Peruvian social groups in a sample of wealthy people from Lima / Estereotipos y valoración de grupos sociales peruanos en una muestra de personas de sectores sociales privilegiados de Lima

Background: Peruvian society is characterized by its ethnical, cultural and socioeconomic diversity, which leads to complex intergroup relations. Objective: To contribute to understanding this phenomenon, the present study aims to examine the stereotypical representations and prejudice towards different Peruvian social groups by high-socioeconomic-status group members from Lima. Method: The research used a mixed-method design for complementing two different approaches: a quantitative one, where questionnaires were administered to a sample of 90 participants; and a qualitative one, in which semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants. Results: The results showed that the participants identified high- and low-status groups in the Peruvian society, and hold ambivalent stereotypical representations towards them. The participants identified and valued White Peruvians as high-status group members, who are competent and developed but also corrupt. On the other hand, they identified and valued Amazonian and African Peruvians to a lesser extent, who are considered as low-status, undeveloped but joyful groups. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the importance of social class attributes used in the formation of stereotypical representations and prejudice towards different Peruvian social groups.

Antecedentes: La sociedad peruana se caracteriza por su diversidad étnica, cultural y socio-económica, lo cual lleva al establecimiento de complejas relaciones intergrupales. Objetivo: Para contribuir a la comprensión de este fenómeno, el presente estudio tiene como objetivo examinar las representaciones estereotípicas y el prejuicio hacia diferentes grupos sociales de la sociedad peruana, expresados por personas de sectores socio-económicos altos de la ciudad de Lima. Método: La investigación comprende un diseño mixto que complementa dos diferentes aproximaciones: una cuantitativa, donde cuestionarios fueron aplicados a una muestra de 90 participantes; y una cualitativa, en donde una entrevista semiestructurada fue aplicada a 10 participantes. Resultados: Los resultados muestran que los participantes identifican grupos de alto y bajo estatus en la sociedad peruana y mantienen representaciones estereotípicas ambivalentes hacia estos. Los participantes identifican y valoran a los peruanos blancos como un grupo de clase alta, competente y desarrollado, pero también corrupto. Mientras tanto, se identifican y valoran menos a los peruanos amazónicos y afroperuanos, los cuales son considerados como grupos de bajo estatus, subdesarrollados pero alegres. Conclusión: El estudio enfatiza en la importancia asignada a los atributos de clase social que se utilizan para la construcción de representaciones estereotípicas y prejuicio hacia diversos grupos sociales en el Perú.