Aged garlic extract and S-allylcysteine prevent apoptotic cell death in a chemical hypoxia model

BACKGROUND: Aged garlic extract (AGE) and its main constituent S-allylcysteine (SAC) are natural antioxidants with protective effects against cerebral ischemia or cancer, events that involve hypoxia stress. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) has been used to mimic hypoxic conditions through the stabilization of the α subunit of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF-1α) and up-regulation of HIF-1α-dependent genes as well as activation of hypoxic conditions such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis. The present study was designed to assess the effect of AGE and SAC on the CoCl2-chemical hypoxia model in PC12 cells. RESULTS: We found that CoCl2 induced the stabilization of HIF-1α and its nuclear localization. CoCl2 produced ROS and apoptotic cell death that depended on hypoxia extent. The treatment with AGE and SAC decreased ROS and protected against CoCl2-induced apoptotic cell death which depended on the CoCl2 concentration and incubation time. SAC or AGE decreased the number of cells in the early and late stages of apoptosis. Interestingly, this protective effect was associated with attenuation in HIF-1α stabilization, activity not previously reported for AGE and SAC. CONCLUSIONS: Obtained results show that AGE and SAC decreased apoptotic CoCl2-induced cell death. This protection occurs by affecting the activity of HIF-1α and supports the use of these natural compounds as a therapeutic alternative for hypoxic conditions

Protocolo de manejo del paciente con asma en la emergencia / Patient management protocol with asthma in the emergency

El asma es una enfermedad de las vías respiratorias que se caracteriza por inflamación crónica, hiperreactividad ante la e xposición a una amplia variedad de estímulos y obstrucción con limitación variable del flujo aéreo. Los pacientes presentan por esta causa diferente grado de paroxismo de tos, disnea, tiraje intercostal, sibilancias y otros síntomas que se exacerban durant e la crisis. La crisis de asma es un episodio agudo o subagudo de disnea, tos, sibilancias u o presión en el pecho que se presentan, como síntomas únicos o en cualquier combinación, en un paciente asmático, que no tienen una explicación diferente del asma misma y que tiene suficiente magnitud y duración para causar un cambio significativo del tratamiento o para motivar una consulta médica. Se acompaña de disminución del flujo espiratorio de aire que se puede cuantificar por espirometría o, de manera práctic a, por un dispositivo manual que mide el flujo máximo o pico: flujo espiratorio pico (FEP)...(AU)

Asthma is a disease of the respiratory tract characterized by chronic inflammation, hyperreactivity to exposure to a wide variety of stimuli, and obstruction with variable airflow limitation. Patients present for this cause a different degree of paroxysmal cough, dyspnea, intercostal retractions, wheezing and other symptoms that are exacerbated during the crisis. The asthma crisis is an acute or subacute episode of dyspnea, cough, wheezing or chest pressure that occur, as unique symptoms or in any combination, in an asthmatic patient, who do not have a different explanation of asthma itself and who have sufficient magnitude and duration to cause a significant change in treatment or to motivate a medical consultation. It is accompanied by a decrease in the expiratory flow of air that can be quantified by spirometry or, in a practical way, by a manual device that measures the maximum or peak flow: peak expiratory flow (FEP) ... (AU)

Manejo ambulatorio de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Outpatient Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

La Organización Mundial para la Salud (OMS) estima que actualmente en el mundo existen 210 millones de personas que padecen EPOC; asimismo estima que en el año 2030 esta enfermedad será la tercera causa de muerte a nivel mundial. El 90% de las muertes se producen en países de ingresos medios a bajos. De las dos presentaciones de EPOC la más frecuente es a nivel mundial bronquitis crónica...(AU)

Purification and characterization of structural and functional properties of two lectins from a marine sponge Spheciospongia vesparia.

The purification, structural and functional characterization of two different lectins (named Svl-1 and Svl-2) has been reported from the marine sponge Spheciospongia vesparia. Purification procedure includes ammonium sulfate precipitation, combined with chromatography including Octyl-Sepharose-(NH4)SO4 hydrophobic column and DEAE-Toyopearl anion-exchange column using a high performance liquid chromatography. The similarities in function, specificity for saccharides, molecular weight, amino acid content and the N-terminal sequence of two lectins suggest that these proteins are isolectins. Amino acid composition and fluorescence analyses reveal that they contain an intrachain disulfide bridge, which might contribute to their high thermal stability. Furthermore, the purified lectins exhibit antibacterial activity against the gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli, indicating that they may be involved in a recognition strategy and may play a role in the defense response function of the sponge. This is the first report on the isolation of lectins from the S. vesparia. The purified lectins represent a potential possible candidate for future application in the recognition or treatment of cancer cells.

Diagnóstico de: corea de Sydenham y corea en enfermedad de Wilson / Diagnosis: Sydenham's chorea and chorea in Wilson's disease

Se presentan dos casos en quienes el diagnóstico adecuado permitió tratamiento específico. La corea de Sydenham es usualmente una entidad benigna, pero retardos en el diagnóstico pueden conducir a maniobras terapéuticas inapropiadas. La enfermedad de Wilson puede presentarse como corea, pero esto es raro en nuestro medio. En el caso presentado, el diagnóstico debe considerarse posible ya que no se determinaron niveles de cobre en tejido hepático. La respuesta a tratamiento podrá ayudar en confirmar esta sospecha clínica. Se presenta además una breve revisión de la literatura de éstas y otras entidades relacionadas