ABSTRACT
Araujia odorata is a sub-shrub native from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, whose latex, roots and leaves are used in traditional medicine. The objective of this work is to study the foliar morpho-anatomy of six populations in an altitudinal gradient (359-2155 m.a.s.l.) of Northwestern Argentine and to determine the nature of the compounds present in the laticiferous of the stems and fruits using conventional techniques for plant anatomy. The populations under study did not show significant morpho-anatomical differences. They presented simple leaves, pinnated brochydodromous venation, amphiestomatic isolateral lamina, brachy, anomo and amphicyclocytic stomata, eglandular trichomes, midvein with bicolateral vascular bundle and non-articulated laticifers continuous in the petiole, stem and fruits. Differences in the quantified foliar parameters are observed, however, only the density of trichomes, stomata and the thickness of the cuticle are positively correlated with the altitudinal gradient, indicating phenotypic plasticity. Histochemical analysis of laticifers and other stem idioblasts of A. odoratawas performed for the first time.
Araujia odorata, es un subarbusto nativo de Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay y Uruguay, cuyo látex, raíces y hojas son utilizados en medicina popular. Se plantea como objetivo realizar un estudio morfo-anatómico foliar de seis poblaciones del Noroeste Argentino en un gradiente altitudinal (359-2155 m.s.n.m) y determinar la naturaleza de los compuestos presentes en laticíferos de tallos y frutos mediante técnicas convencionales de anatomía vegetal. Las poblaciones estudiadas no evidenciaron diferencias morfo-anatómicas significativas. Presentan hojas simples, venación pinnada broquidódroma, lámina isolateral anfiestomática, estomas braqui, anomo y anficiclocíticos, tricomas eglandulares, nervio medio con haz bicolateral y laticíferos no-articulados continuos en pecíolo, tallo y frutos. Se observan diferencias en los parámetros foliares cuantificados, sin embargo, solo la de densidad de tricomas, estomas y el espesor de cutícula se correlacionan positivamente con el gradiente altitudinal indicando plasticidad fenotípica. Se realiza por primera vez un análisis histoquímico de los laticíferos y otros idioblastos del tallo A. odorata.
Subject(s)
Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology , Apocynaceae/anatomy & histology , Argentina , Plant Stems/anatomy & histology , Altitude , Fruit/anatomy & histologyABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective To determine the optimal cut-off value for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to predict the outcome of microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Subjects and methods We included a total number of 180 patients with NOA. The serum level of FSH was determined and all the subjects underwent micro-TESE. We determined the optimal cut-off value for FSH and assessed whether the test could be effectively used as a successful predictor of sperm retrieval by calculating the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) area under the curve. Results Overall we included a total number of 171 patients with mean age of 34.3 ± 8.6 years. The micro-TESE was considered to be successful in 79 (43.8%) while it failed in 92 (56.2%) patients. We found that the mean level of serum FSH was significantly higher in group those with failed micro-TEST compared to successful group (p < 0.001). The cut-off value for FSH was calculated to be 14.6 mIU/mL to predictive the outcome of micro-TESE with a sensitivity of 83.5% [73.5%-90.9%] and a specificity of 80.3% [69.5%-88.5%]. At this value, the other parameters were calculated to be PPV, 81.5%; NPV, 82.4; LR+, 4.23; and LR-, 0.21. Conclusions The results of the current study indicate that FSH plasma levels above 14.6 mIU/mL can be considered to be the failure predictor of the micro-TESE in NOA patients.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Azoospermia/blood , Sperm Retrieval , Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood , Microsurgery/methods , Reference Values , Cross-Sectional Studies , Prospective Studies , ROC Curve , Middle AgedABSTRACT
En el presente artículo, las autoras describen las medicinas tradicionales en el noroeste argentino, particularmente el curanderismo, el autotratamiento tradicional o medicina casera. A partir de materiales originales, obtenidos mediante entrevistas abiertas, extensas y recurrentes a informantes calificados y grupos naturales, se intentará mostrar que las prácticas de legos y de curanderos sintetizan antiguas teorías biomédicas -en su mayoría de raigambre humoral- con saberes de la medicina popular europea aportados desde el siglo XVI hasta el XX, y con prácticas rituales, muchas de éstas de raigambre católica o asociadas y refiguradas en términos de ese sistema de creencias.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cultural Characteristics , Indigenous Peoples , Medicine, Traditional , ArgentinaABSTRACT
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the Earth's crust, and it is not confined to the historic and current asbestos mining areas, but rather quite commonly encountered in certain geological environments across the world. The middle-west side of the Korean Peninsula (Chungnam province) has been composed of numerous talc and asbestos ore deposits derived from serpentine and dolomite. These areas have experienced epidemics of malignant mesothelioma and pleural plaques as a result of non-occupational "neighborhood" exposure and naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) exposure. However, asbestosis epidemics from environmental exposure were rare because asbestosis needs relatively high concentration of asbestos exposure. This review summarizes asbestosis epidemics which occurred in the residents who have lived past or current asbestos mining areas and natural in-place asbestos deposits (or asbestos-like mineral deposits) in the world, including Korean asbestosis endemics that occurred in Chungnam province, which has many historic asbestos mining. Also, this manuscript will describe effective public policies for managing NOA, minimizing potential hazards, and protecting public health from asbestos exposure.
Subject(s)
Asbestos , Asbestosis , Calcium Carbonate , Environmental Exposure , Magnesium , Mesothelioma , Mining , Public Health , Public Policy , Residence Characteristics , TalcABSTRACT
Objetivo. Describir la prevalencia de maracadores serológicos de los virus de la hepatitis en una población de embarazadas. Material y métodos. Se estudiaron 1 500 sueros de embarazadas en los que se determinaron: anticuerpos IgG contra el virus de la hepatitis A (anti-VHA); anticuerpos IgG contra el antígeno central del virus de la hepatitis B (ant-HB-c), y su antígeno de superficie (AgsHB); así como anticuerpos contra el virus de la hepatitis C (anti-VHC). En los casos positivos al AgsHB se buscaron anticuerpos contra el virus de la hepatitis D (anti-VHD) y el antígeno e del virus de la hepatitis B (AgeHB). Todas las determinaciones se realizaron por la técnica de ELISA. Resultados. El 93.3 por ciento de los sueros estudiados tuvo anti-VHA IgG positivos. La prevalencia del AgsHB fue del 0.26 por ciento y de anti-VHC del 0.53 por ciento. No hubo pacientes con positividad para anti-VHD ni para el AgeHB. Conclusiones. Se encontró una prevalencia del AgsHB superior a la de otros estudios en embarazadas mexicanas. Consideramos que el escrutinio del AgsHB debe formar parte de los exámenes de control prenatal
Objective. To determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A, B, C and D virus infection among pregnant women attending a perinatal care hospital. Material and methods. A prospective study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus IgG antibodies (anti-HAV), hepatitis B virus markers (anti-HBcAg and HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV) in pregnant women. In HBsAg positive cases, HBeAg and hepatitis D virus antibodies (anti-HDV) were investigated. All analyses were performed with the ELISA technique. Results. Of the 1500 pregnant women studied, 93.3% were positive for anti-HAV IgG. The HBsAg seroprevalence was 0.26% and anti-HCV seroprevalence was 0.53%. There were no patients with HBeAg or antiHDV. Conclusions. A higher seroprevalence of HBsAg was found in this study than in other studies of pregnant Mexican women. We propose that HBsAg screening become a routine prenatal test.