Hydrogel with silver nanoparticles synthesized by Mimosa tenuiflora for second-degree burns treatment.

In this work we use Mimosa tenuiflora (MtE) extracts as reducing agents to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgMt NPs) which were characterized by DPPH and Total Polyphenols Assays, UV-visible, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). AgMt NPs possess average sizes of 21 nm and fcc crystalline structure, it was also confirmed that the MtE is present in the AgMt NPs even after the cleaning protocol applied. Subsequently, carbopol hydrogels were made and the MtE and the synthesized AgMt NPs were dispersed in different gels (MtE-G and AgMt NPs-G, respectively) at 100 µg/g concentration. The gels were characterized by UV-Vis, IR, and rheology. Antimicrobial tests were performed using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Burn wound healing was evaluated in a second-degree burn injury on a Wistar rats model for 14 days and additional skin biopsies were examined with histopathological analysis. Gel with commercial silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was prepared and employed as a control on the biological assays. Hydrogel system containing silver nanoparticles synthesized with Mimosa tenuiflora (AgMt NPs-G) is a promising therapeutic strategy for burn wound healing, this due to bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects, which promotes a more effective recovery (in percentage terms) by damaged area.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Lysiloma acapulcensis exhibit high-antimicrobial activity.

The scientific community is exploiting the use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in nanomedicine and other AgNPs combination like with biomaterials to reduce microbial contamination. In the field of nanomedicine and biomaterials, AgNPs are used as an antimicrobial agent. One of the most effective approaches for the production of AgNPs is green synthesis. Lysiloma acapulcensis (L. acapulcensis) is a perennial tree used in traditional medicine in Mexico. This tree contains abundant antimicrobial compounds. In the context of antimicrobial activity, the use of L. acapulcensis extracts can reduce silver to AgNPs and enhance its antimicrobial activity. In this work, we demonstrate such antimicrobial activity effect employing green synthesized AgNPs with L. acapulcensis. The FTIR and LC-MS results showed the presence of chemical groups that could act as either (i) reducing agents stabilizing the AgNPs or (ii) antimicrobial capping agents enhancing antimicrobial properties of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs with L. acapulcensis were crystalline with a spherical and quasi-spherical shape with diameters from 1.2 to 62 nm with an average size diameter of 5 nm. The disk diffusion method shows the magnitude of the susceptibility over four pathogenic microorganisms of clinical interest. The antimicrobial potency obtained was as follows: E. coli ≥ S. aureus ≥ P. aeruginosa > C. albicans. The results showed that green synthesized (biogenic) AgNPs possess higher antimicrobial potency than chemically produced AgNPs. The obtained results confirm a more significant antimicrobial effect of the biogenic AgNPs maintaining low-cytotoxicity than the AgNPs produced chemically.

Obtaining an Extract Rich in Phenolic Compounds from Olive Pomace by Pressurized Liquid Extraction.

The olive oil industry produces large volumes of wastes, which are also potential sources of bioactive compounds by developing healthy and/or functional foods. Extraction of phenolic compounds from the residues of the olive oil is mainly carried out with solvents. However, there is currently a growing public awareness about the use of organic solvents in food processing, which has pointed out the need for the application of clean technologies such as pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). Therefore, the aim of this research was to optimize the phenolic compound extraction from olive pomace by PLE, establishing the qualitative and quantitative phenolic profile by HPLC-ESI-TOF/MS. The extraction design to recover phenolics from olive pomace demonstrates a great compositional variability of PLE extracts obtained under different experimental conditions. Indeed, quantitative results have pointed out the selectivity of PLE extraction when this technique is applied to the treatment of olive pomace. PLE-optimized conditions showed higher total phenolic compound content than conventional extraction (1659 mg/kg d.w. and 281.7 mg/kg d.w., respectively). Among these phenolics, the quantity of secoiridoids and flavonoids in the optimized PLE extract was three and four times higher than in conventional extracts. Furthermore, optimal PLE conditions allowed to obtain an enriched hydroxytyrosol extract which was not detected in the conventional one.

Dual-photosensitizer coupled nanoscintillator capable of producing type I and type II ROS for next generation photodynamic therapy.

The current photodynamic therapy (PDT) is majorly hindered by the shallow penetration depth and oxygen dependency, limiting its application to deep-seated solid hypoxic tumors. Thus, it is meaningful to develop efficient X-ray mediated PDT system capable of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) under both the normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of nanocomposite, YAG:Pr@ZnO@PpIX with an amalgamation of UV-emitting Y2.99Pr0.01Al5O12 (YAG:Pr) nanoscintillator, and zinc oxide (ZnO) and protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) as photosensitizers. YAG:Pr surface was coated with a ZnO layer (∼10 nm) by atomic layer deposition, and then PpIX was covalently conjugated via a linker to give YAG:Pr@ZnO@PpIX. The photo- and cathodoluminescence analyses gave the evidences of efficient energy transfer from YAG:Pr to ZnO at ∼320 nm, and YAG:Pr@ZnO to PpIX at Soret region (350-450 nm). The nanohybrid was able to produce both, Type I and Type II ROS upon direct and indirect photoactivation with UV365nm and UV290nm, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity of non-activated YAG:Pr@ZnO@PpIX in mouse melanoma cells revealed low toxicity, which significantly enhanced upon photoactivation with UV365nm indicating the photokilling property of the nanohybrid. Overall, our preliminary studies successfully demonstrate the potential of YAG:Pr@ZnO@PpIX to overcome the limited penetration and oxygen-dependency of traditional PDT.

Lipid Nanoparticles as Potential Gene Therapeutic Delivery Systems for Oral Administration.

BACKGROUND: Gene therapy has experimented an increasing attention in the last decades, due to its enormous potential applications in the medical field. It can be defined as the use of genes or genetic material (DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides) to treat or prevent a disease state, generally a geneticbased one. APPLICATION: Other applications, like treating viral, bacterial or parasite infections or development of vaccines are gaining also interest. Efficient gene therapy is mainly dependent on the ability of the highly labile genetic material to reach the therapeutic target. For this purpose, different delivery systems have been designed and extensively investigated. Nanoparticles offer a broad range of possibilities in design, being prepared using biocompatible and biodegradable excipients, being therefore generally considered as safe. CONCLUSION: Oral delivery of the genetic material is also a great challenge, due to the complexity of this specific biological barrier. Special attention to all the intrinsic hazards for gene delivery due to the barrier must be taken into account during the particle design process. Particle design will also allow targeting to specific sites of the gastrointestinal tract. Solid lipid nanoparticles have been extensively studied in the oral drug delivery field, and also in gene delivery through other administration routes, but still not explored in oral gene delivery. In this manuscript, design considerations and particle-cell interaction mechanisms will be extensively reviewed, focusing on the oral route to encourage the scientific community to explore these valuable carriers for oral gene delivery.

[Decreasing systolic blood pressure with isometric muscle training: a CAT]. / Entrenamiento de fuerza isométrica para la disminución de la presión arterial sistólica: CAT.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease or heart failure. One of the interventions for the management of this disorder is isometric muscle training on upper and lower limbs. PURPOSE: To prove the validity and applicability of results regarding the effectiveness of isometric training in hypertensive subjects. We also attempt to answer the following question: what is the effectiveness of isometric muscle training on the decrease of systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients? METHODS: Critical appraisal of the systematic review and meta-analysis "Isometric exercise training for blood pressure management". RESULTS: Isometric training reduces systolic blood pressure in normotensive and medicated hypertensive subjects, with a standardized mean difference of 6.77 mm Hg (95% confidence interval: 7.93-5.62). CONCLUSION: It is reasonable to recommend isometric muscle training with the aim of lowering systolic blood pressure, considering the impact of the results of the articles analyzed and the applicability of this type of training.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La hipertensión arterial es uno de los principales factores de riesgo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares, entre ellas la enfermedad coronaria o la insuficiencia cardíaca. Una de las intervenciones para el manejo de esta patología es el entrenamiento de fuerza isométrica en extremidad superior e inferior. OBJETIVO: Comprobar la validez y aplicabilidad de los resultados en relación a la efectividad del entrenamiento isométrico en sujetos hipertensos. También se busca responder la siguiente interrogante: ¿cuál es la efectividad del entrenamiento isométrico para disminuir la presión arterial sistólica en pacientes con hipertensión arterial? MÉTODOS: Se analizó la revisión "Entrenamiento de ejercicios isométricos para el manejo de la presión sanguínea", revisión sistemática y metanálisis. RESULTADOS: El entrenamiento isométrico disminuye la presión arterial sistólica en sujetos hipertensos controlados y normotensos, con una diferencia media estandarizada de 6,77 mm Hg (intervalo de confianza 95%: 7,93-5,62). CONCLUSIÓN: Se encuentra razonable recomendar un entrenamiento de ejercicio isométrico para disminuir la presión arterial sistólica, considerando el impacto de los resultados de la revisión realizada y la aplicabilidad de este tipo de entrenamiento.

Caracterización de extractos hidroalcohólico y acuoso de Cestrum parqui L'Herit (palqui) respecto de su actividad antioxidante y surfactante / Characterization of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of Cestrum parqui L'Herit (palqui) with respect to its antioxidant and surfactant activity

Cestrum parqui L'Herit (n.v. palqui) es una planta originaria de Sudamérica cuyos efectos benéficos descritos incluyen acción antipirética y sudorífica, tratamiento de diversas afecciones a la piel como quemaduras, eczema, impétigo y herpes. Hasta hoy, sólo se ha podido establecer científicamente su efecto antiinflamatorio y un discreto efecto antipirético. Sin embargo, se han descrito intoxicaciones agudas en bovinos y ovinos asociadas al consumo de palqui. Los efectos tóxicos incluyen necrosis hepática severa y hemorragia generalizada en los animales. Los estudios científicos relacionados con los efectos benéficos y tóxicos de esta planta son escasos. Es por ello, que en este trabajo se caracterizaron dos extractos, uno hidroalcohólico y el otro acuoso, de hojas y tallos de la parte aérea de Cestrum parqui L'Herit respecto de su capacidad antioxidante y surfactante. Ambos extractos previnieron en distinta magnitud, la oxidación de los lípidos y los tioles proteicos microsómicos, fenómenos inducidos por el sistema Fe3+/ascorbato. El extracto hidroalcohólico resultó ser el mejor antioxidante, aunque su concentración de polifenoles fue 4,2 veces menor que la del extracto acuoso. Asimismo, el extracto hidroalcohólico fue 8,5 veces más potente en causar la liberación de hemoglobina eritrocitaria, por lo tanto, el de mayor actividad surfactante. Estos resultados indicarían que las diferencias en las actividades estudiadas dependen no sólo de la concentración de antioxidantes, sino además, de otras variables. Así, la calidad y cantidad de los principios activos extraídos desde la droga vegetal dependen principalmente del solvente utilizado. Al final del manuscrito, los resultados se discuten desde el punto de vista farmacológico

Structural, magnetic, and spectroscopic comparative studies on four new derivatives of DIMMAL (2-di1H-2-imidazolylmethylmalonate): a novel generator of multidimensional networks.

This paper reports the synthesis, structure solution, and magnetic characterization of four new DIMMAL-containing compounds (H2DIMMAL = 2-di1H-2-imidazolylmethylmalonic acid), H2DIMMAL x H2O (1), Na2(DIMMAL) x 5H2O (2), [Cu(HDIMMAL)2] (3), and [Cu2(DIMMAL)2(H2O)2] x 2H2O (4). Compound 1, containing two carboxylates and two protonated imidazole rings, adopts the dizwitterion configuration. These monohydrate MBBs pack together into a 3D array driven, as in the other three cases herein reported, by a combination of multiple-path H-bonds and aromatic-aromatic interactions. Compound 2 consists of centrosymmetric Na+ tetramers in which four NaO6 distorted octahedra are interconnected by carboxylate and water bridges. Compound 3 consists of mononuclear [Cu(HDIMMAL)2] units in which HDIMMAL- acts as a tridentate ligand through two imidazole N atoms and the deprotonated O from a carboxylate. Compound 4 consists of centrosymmetric cyclic dinuclear [Cu2(DIMMAL)2(H2O)2] x 2H2O units involving propionate-arm bridges. The building-block units described above, in each case, are interconnected into 3D networks by multiple H-bonding paths and aromatic-aromatic interactions. The EPR spectra are indicative of an essentially d(x2-y2) ground state for the copper(II) ions in 3 and 4 (CuN4O2 and CuN2O2O' chromophores, respectively). Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the range of 1.8-200 K for compound 4 show weak antiferromagnetic exchange between the copper(II) ions (2J = -1.6(1) cm(-1)). The effectiveness of the propionate-arm bridges, involving C-C sigma bonds, in propagating magnetic exchange between the copper(II) ions is discussed.

Synthesis, crystal structure, magnetic properties, and theoretical studies of [(Cu(mepirizole)Br)2(mu-OH)(mu-pz)] (mepirizole=4-methoxy-2-(5-methoxy-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidine; pz=pyrazolate), a novel mu-pyrazolato-mu-hydroxo-dibridged copper(II) complex.

A novel mu-pyrazolato-mu-hydroxo-dibridged copper(II) complex has been synthesized and structurally characterized: [(Cu(mepirizole)Br)2(mu-OH)(mu-pz)] (mepirizole=4-methoxy-2-(5-methoxy-3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methylpyrimidine; pz=pyrazolate). The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a=15.618(2) A, b=15.369(3) A, c=16.071(3) A, and beta=112.250(1) degrees. The structure is built up of dinuclear [(Cu(mepirizole)Br)2(mu-OH)(mu-pz)] units with five-coordinated copper(II) ions (CuBrN3O chromophores) linked by mu2-OH and mu2-pyrazolato bridges that are well separated from each others. The intramolecular copper-copper distance is 3.378(3) A. Magnetic susceptibility data show that the copper atoms are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled with J=-770 cm(-1). The obtained triplet-singlet energy gap is compared with those reported for a series of related dimers. The strong antiferromagnetic coupling arising from the complementarity of the hydroxo and pyrazolato bridges has been discussed on the basis of DFT calculations.

La pseudo-obstrucción colónica aguda / The acute colonic pseudo-obstruction

La pseudo-obstrucción colónica aguda se presenta sin causa mecánica y con características de obstrucción de instrucción de intestino grueso con participación de un desbalance en el control autonómico del colon. El manejo debe ser conservador inicialmente tratando de identificar causas metabólicas, infecciosas o farmacológicas. La intervención activa se indica en casos de no respuesta o cuando existe sospecha o evidencia de complicaciones (isquemia, perforación, dolor severo entre otros). La neuro-estimulación parasimpática ayuda y la cirugía se reserva para casos de perforación o signos peritoneales.

Acute colonic pseudo-obstruction is caracterized by symptoms of large bowel obstruction, with an important imbalance of autonomic control of the colon. Initial management is conservative and the correction of infectious, metabolic or drug factors. Active intervention is reserved for peritoneal compromise or no response including complications (ischemia, perforation, intractable pain and others). Neuro parasymphatetic stimulation is required sometimes and surgery is reserved for cases of perforation or peritoneal signs.