Screening of medicinal plants for induction of somatic segregation activity in Aspergillus nidulans.

Knowledge about mutagenic properties of plants commonly used in traditional medicine is limited. A screening for genotoxic activity was carried out in aqueous or alcoholic extracts prepared from 13 medicinal plants widely used as folk medicine in Cuba: Lepidium virginicum L. (Brassicaceae): Plantago major L. and Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae); Ortosiphon aristatus Blume, Mentha x piperita L., Melissa officinalis L. and Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. (Lamiaceae); Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf (Poaceae); Passiflora incarnata L. (Passifloraceae); Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae); Piper auritum HBK. (Piperaceae); Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardeaceae) and Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae). A plate incorporation assay with Aspergillus nidulans was employed, allowing detection of somatic segregation as a result of mitotic crossing-over, chromosome malsegregation or clastogenic effects. Aspergillus nidulans D-30, a well-marked strain carrying four recessive mutations for conidial color in heterozygosity, which permitted the direct visual detection of segregants, was used throughout this study. As a result, only in the aqueous extract of one of the plants screened (Momordica charantia) a statistical significant increase in the frequency of segregant sectors per colony was observed, and consequently, a genotoxic effect is postulated.

[The effect of continuous positive pressure in the nasal airway on the right ventricular function in obstructive apnea sleep syndrome]. / Efecto de la presión positiva continua en la vía aérea a través de la nariz sobre la función ventricular derecha en el síndrome de apnea obstructiva del sueño.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the right ventricular function in the obstructive apnea sleep syndrome (OSAS) and to determine the effect of the continuous use of a continuous positive pressure nasal device on the airway (CPSPn) produces on this aspect of the disease. METHODS: Forty patients were diagnosed of OSAS by study of spontaneous night sleep. A functional respiratory study was performed in all the patients as was a calculation of the index of body mass (IBM) and isotopic ventriculography for the calculation of the right and left ventricular ejection fractions (RVEF and LVEF). Twenty-six patients were followed after 8.4 +/- 3.3 months of home treatment with CPAPn in which these studies were repeated. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the 40 patients (60%) had RVEF lower than 0.45. These 24 patients had paO2 in vigil state (69.9 +/- 13.6 mmHg) than those with a normal RVEF (80.1 +/- 8.7 mmHg) (p < 0.05). After treatment with CPAPn an elevation was observed in the RVEF in the group which was followed. This increase was significant in the subgroup sharing low RVEF (n = 16) prior to starting treatment upon passing from 0.39 (+/- 0.02) to 0.45 (+/- 0.04) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricular dysfunction in frequent in patients with the obstructive apnea sleep syndrome and is more frequent in patients maintaining hypoxemia in vigil. The continual use of continuous positive pressure in the nasal airway produces improvement in right ventricular function particularly in those in whom this was most disturbed.

[Right ventricular function in sleep apnea syndrome and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]. / Función ventricular derecha en el síndrome de apnea del sueño y enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica.

The factors that contribute to the development of chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) in sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) are being continuously reviewed, as well as the role played by the coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Right ventricular function was evaluated in 20 SAS patients, 10 of whom presented associated (COPD). In all of them the following tests were performed while fasting: blood gasometry, spirometry, body mass index and isotopic ventriculography which included the determination of righ ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). The RVEF of the group presenting COPD (mean +/- DS) (0.43 +/- 0.07) was not significantly different from the group without COPD (0.46 +/- 0.09). When the patients were regrouped according to the presence of hypoxemia during the day (paO2 less than 70 mmHg) a significant difference was evidenced between the mean value of the RVEF group with hypoxemia (n = 10) (0.40 +/- 0.02) and that of the group with normoxemia (n = 10) (0.50 +/- 0.09) (p less than 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the degree of obstruction and the BMI in either group. These results suggest that the worsening of RVF is more frequent in SAS patients who present daytime hypoxemia.

[Brain scanning in children (author's transl)]. / Valoración de la gammagrafía en los tumores cerebrales de la infancia

This report is concerned with evaluation of brain scintigraphy in the detection of brain tumors in children. Brain scans have been reviewed in 309 cases and were evaluated in 182 patients; brain tumor suspicious was present in 41 childrens. True positive results were obtained in 73% of brains tumors and true negative results in 5% with other diseases. There were either false positive or false negative results in 21% of scans. Results are compared to other series reported, showing similar findings. Finally the importance of this type of investigation is stressed.