Typology and characterization of the agricultural productive units in the NE Amazonian region of Ecuador.

Objective: Many studies have observed different characteristics among productive systems in the rural territories of Latin America. Therefore, understanding and characterizing them while they function plays an essential role in determining their relationship between development and environment. A study has been conducted in the Orellana province of NE Ecuador to determine their typology and then classify them according to the variables that describe their main traits or attributes using cluster analysis (CA). Materials and Methods: A survey was structured to investigate physical, productive, environmental, as well as socioeconomic character variables, which were subsequently applied to a random sample of the 5,963 agricultural productive units (APUs) through face-to-face contact with producers during an in situ visit to their farms. Result: The CA allowed us to identify three typologies of APUs in the Orellana Province. The first has been Type 1, which is denominated as the most conventional (40%), while Type 2 uses more efficient natural resources but represents an amount of only 9.4%. In contrast, type 3 (50.6%) depends on a significant part of local or national development programs. Conclusion: All groups indicated some peculiarities in common, as there were marked differences in the use and distribution of land as well as production methods among them. Consequently, this pioneering study allowed us to identify different production methods. Therefore, we encourage local and national governments to establish policies for natural resource conservation in such high-diversity zones.

Glycemic and Satiety Response to Three Mexican Honey Varieties.

Honey is considered one of the last untreated natural food substances, with a complex composition. It is produced by bees (Apis mellifera) from nectar. The glycemic index (GI) is a physiological assessment of a food's carbohydrate content via its effect on postprandial blood glucose concentrations. This study evaluated the GI and the satiety response to three Mexican types of honey administered to 26 healthy volunteers. The fructose values ranged from 272.40 g/kg to 395.10 g/kg, while the glucose value ranged from 232.20 g/kg to 355.50 g/kg. The fructose/glucose (F/G) ratio of honey was 1.45, 1.00, and 1.17 for highland, multifloral, and avocado honey, respectively. Highland and avocado honey were classified as medium-GI (69.20 ± 4.07 and 66.36 ± 5.74, respectively), while multifloral honey was classified as high-GI (74.24 ± 5.98). Highland honey presented a higher satiety values response than glucose. The difference in GI values and the satiety response effect of highland honey could be explained by its different carbohydrate composition and the possible presence of other honey components such as phytochemicals. Honey, especially avocado, could therefore be used as a sweetener without altering significantly the blood glucose concentration.

Green Alternatives in Treatment of Liver Diseases: the Challenges of Traditional Medicine and Green Nanomedicine.

Over the last decade, liver diseases have become a global problem, with approximately two million deaths per year. The high increase in the mortality rate of these diseases is mostly related to the limitations in the understanding of the evolutionary clinical cases of liver diseases, the low delivery of drugs in the liver, the non-specific administration of drugs, and the side effects generated at the systemic level by conventional therapeutic agents. Today it is common knowledge that phytochemicals have a high curative potential, even in the prevention and/or reversibility of liver disorders; however, even using these green molecules, researchers continue to deal with the same challenges implemented with conventional therapeutic agents, which limits the pharmacological potential of these friendly molecules. On the other hand, the latest advances in nanotechnology have proven that the use of nanocarriers as a delivery system for green active ingredients, as well as conventional ones, increases the pharmacological potential of these active ingredients due to their physicochemical characteristics (size, Zeta potential, etc.,) moldable depending on the therapeutic objective; in addition to the above, it should be noted that in recent years, nanoparticles have been developed for the specific delivery of drugs towards a specific target (stellar cells, hepatocytes, Kupffer cells), depending on the clinical state of the disease in the patient. The present review addresses the challenges of traditional medicine and green nanomedicine as alternatives in the treatment of liver diseases.

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and its total non-digestible fraction influence the expression of genes involved in azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in rats.

The influence of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and its total non-digestible fraction (TNDF) on the expression of genes involved in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer in Sprague Dawley rats was analyzed. The dose used in the animal model was two tablespoons of flaxseed per day, which is the dose recommended for humans. Flaxseed significantly decreased the crypt multiplicity (10.50 ± 3.5) compared with the AOM treatment (34.00 ± 11.0), which suggests that flaxseed exhibits a preventive effect against colon cancer. Both treatments (flaxseed and TNDF) influence the overexpression of genes involved in cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial apoptosis: p53, p21, bcl-2, bax and caspase-3. Flaxseed induced the expression of p53 and p21, whereas TNDF triggered the p21-independent expression of p53. This finding suggests that both of these treatments induced cell cycle arrest. In addition, TNDF induced mitochondrial apoptosis because the TNDF + AOM group exhibited the expression of caspase-3, decreased bcl-2 expression and increased bax expression. These results suggest that the expression of the analyzed genes is associated with the presence of dietary antioxidants linked to the cell wall of flaxseed.

The natural and social history of the indigenous lands and protected areas corridor of the Xingu River basin.

The 280,000 km² Xingu indigenous lands and protected areas (ILPAs) corridor, inhabited by 24 indigenous peoples and about 215 riverine (ribeirinho) families, lies across active agriculture frontiers in some of the historically highest-deforestation regions of the Amazon. Much of the Xingu is anthropogenic landscape, densely inhabited and managed by indigenous populations over the past millennium. Indigenous and riverine peoples' historical management and use of these landscapes have enabled their long-term occupation and ultimately their protection. The corridor vividly demonstrates how ILPAs halt deforestation and why they may account for a large part of the 70 per cent reduction in Amazon deforestation below the 1996-2005 average since 2005. However, ongoing and planned dams, road paving, logging and mining, together with increasing demand for agricultural commodities, continued degradation of upper headwaters outside ILPA borders and climate change impacts may render these gains ephemeral. Local peoples will need new, bottom-up, forms of governance to gain recognition for the high social and biological diversity of these territories in development policy and planning, and finance commensurate with the value of their ecosystem services. Indigenous groups' reports of changing fire and rainfall regimes may themselves evidence climate change impacts, a new and serious threat.

The first transmembrane domain (TM1) of ß2-subunit binds to the transmembrane domain S1 of α-subunit in BK potassium channels.

The BK channel is one of the most broadly expressed ion channels in mammals. In many tissues, the BK channel pore-forming α-subunit is associated to an auxiliary ß-subunit that modulates the voltage- and Ca(2+)-dependent activation of the channel. Structural components present in ß-subunits that are important for the physical association with the α-subunit are yet unknown. Here, we show through co-immunoprecipitation that the intracellular C-terminus, the second transmembrane domain (TM2) and the extracellular loop of the ß2-subunit are dispensable for association with the α-subunit pointing transmembrane domain 1 (TM1) as responsible for the interaction. Indeed, the TOXCAT assay for transmembrane protein-protein interactions demonstrated for the first time that TM1 of the ß2-subunit physically binds to the transmembrane S1 domain of the α-subunit.

In vitro fermentability and antioxidant capacity of the indigestible fraction of cooked black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), lentils (Lens culinaris L.) and chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.).

BACKGROUND: Pulses represent an important source of protein, as well as digestible and indigestible carbohydrates. Little information is available on the indigestible carbohydrates and antioxidant capacity of legume seeds. The cooked seeds of three pulses (black bean, chickpea and lentil) were evaluated for their indigestible fraction (IF), polyphenols content, antioxidant capacity and in vitro fermentability, including short-chain fatty acid production. RESULTS: The insoluble indigestible fraction (IIF) was higher than the soluble counterpart (soluble indigestible fraction, SIF). The SIF value was highest in black beans, while no difference was observed between chickpeas and lentils. Black beans and lentils had higher polyphenols content than chickpeas. The IF of black beans exhibited the lowest and chickpeas the highest associated polyphenols content. Condensed tannins were retained to some extent in the IF that exhibited significant antioxidant capacity. The total IF of the three pulses produced short chain fatty acids (SCFA) after 24 h of in vitro fermentation by human colonic microflora. IF from black bean and lentil were best substrates for the fermentative production of butyric acid. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the IF of pulses might be an important source of bioactive compounds.

[Use of telemedicine technology as a strategy to promote health care of riverside communities in the Amazon: experience with interdisciplinary work, integrating NHS guidelines]. / Utilização da telemedicina como estratégia de promoção de saúde em comunidades ribeirinhas da Amazônia: experiência de trabalho interdisciplinar, integrando as diretrizes do SUS.

This article aims at presenting an experience of professional and medical assistance education using telemedicine as a technology for the promotion and prevention in health care as well as professional qualification of the riverside population living in the margins of Madeira river, in the State of Rondônia. This project comprised a small pole of the telemedicine in the community of Santa Catarina, located by Madeira river, 200 km from the city of Porto Velho, Rondônia State. Field experience was performed between July 17 and 31, 2006, promoting the inclusion of inhabitants of nine riverside communities. The system allowed simultaneous, real time audio and video exchange providing the riverside communities with unique access to information, medical assistance, and lectures on prevention in basic health to the population in general. This project showed that the implantation of telemedicine is an alternative for a better distribution of health services. In addition to bringing assistance to people less favoured, it allows social reintegralization of people excluded due to geographic isolation, assists in information diffusion, proves education to the population and future system users, promotes prevention in health, developing responsibility of the population for a better quality of life of the region.

Utilização da telemedicina como estratégia de promoção de saúde em comunidades ribeirinhas da Amazônia: experiência de trabalho interdisciplinar, integrando as diretrizes do SUS / Use of telemedicine technology as a strategy to promote health care of riverside communities in the Amazon: experience with interdisciplinary work, integrating NHS guidelines

Este artigo apresenta uma experiência de formação educacional e de assistência médica, utilizando a telemedicina como recurso tecnológico para a promoção e prevenção em saúde, além da capacitação profissional de populações ribeirinhas do baixo Madeira, no Estado de Rondônia. A atuação contou com a constituição de um pequeno pólo de telemedicina na comunidade de Santa Catarina, localizada no rio Madeira, há duzentos quilômetros do município de Porto Velho. A experiência no campo foi realizada entre 17 e 31 de julho de 2006, promovendo a inclusão de moradores de nove comunidades ribeirinhas. O sistema permitiu a troca simultânea de vídeo e áudio em tempo real, possibilitando acesso à informação, assistência médica e palestras sobre prevenção em saúde básica à população em geral. A realização deste projeto mostrou que a implantação da telemedicina é uma alternativa para a melhor distribuição dos serviços de saúde. Além de levar o atendimento a populações menos favorecidas, permite a reintegração social de pessoas preteridas pelo isolamento geográfico, auxilia na difusão de informação, proporciona capacitação aos moradores e futuros usuários do sistema, promove a prevenção em saúde, desenvolvendo a responsabilidade da população para uma melhor da qualidade de vida da região.

This article aims at presenting an experience of professional and medical assistance education using telemedicine as a technology for the promotion and prevention in health care as well as professional qualification of the riverside population living in the margins of Madeira river, in the State of Rondônia. This project comprised a small pole of the telemedicine in the community of Santa Catarina, located by Madeira river, 200 km from the city of Porto Velho, Rondônia State. Field experience was performed between July 17 and 31, 2006, promoting the inclusion of inhabitants of nine riverside communities. The system allowed simultaneous, real time audio and video exchange providing the riverside communities with unique access to information, medical assistance, and lectures on prevention in basic health to the population in general. This project showed that the implantation of telemedicine is an alternative for a better distribution of health services. In addition to bringing assistance to people less favoured, it allows social reintegralization of people excluded due to geographic isolation, assists in information diffusion, proves education to the population and future system users, promotes prevention in health, developing responsibility of the population for a better quality of life of the region.

Dissection of the components for PIP2 activation and thermosensation in TRP channels.

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) plays a central role in the activation of several transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. The role of PIP2 on temperature gating of thermoTRP channels has not been explored in detail, and the process of temperature activation is largely unexplained. In this work, we have exchanged different segments of the C-terminal region between cold-sensitive (TRPM8) and heat-sensitive (TRPV1) channels, trying to understand the role of the segment in PIP2 and temperature activation. A chimera in which the proximal part of the C-terminal of TRPV1 replaces an equivalent section of TRPM8 C-terminal is activated by PIP2 and confers the phenotype of heat activation. PIP2, but not temperature sensitivity, disappears when positively charged residues contained in the exchanged region are neutralized. Shortening the exchanged segment to a length of 11 aa produces voltage-dependent and temperature-insensitive channels. Our findings suggest the existence of different activation domains for temperature, PIP2, and voltage. We provide an interpretation for channel-PIP2 interaction using a full-atom molecular model of TRPV1 and PIP2 docking analysis.

A hot-sensing cold receptor: C-terminal domain determines thermosensation in transient receptor potential channels.

Temperature transduction in mammals is possible because of the presence of a set of temperature-dependent transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in dorsal root ganglia neurons and skin cells. Six thermo-TRP channels, all characterized by their unusually high temperature sensitivity (Q10 > 10), have been cloned: TRPV1-4 are heat activated, whereas TRPM8 and TRPA1 are activated by cold. Because of the lack of structural information, the molecular basis for regulation by temperature remains unknown. In this study, we assessed the role of the C-terminal domain of thermo-TRPs and its involvement in thermal activation by using chimeras between the heat receptor TRPV1 and the cold receptor TRPM8, in which the entire C-terminal domain was switched. Here, we demonstrate that the C-terminal domain is modular and confers the channel phenotype regarding temperature sensitivity, channel gating kinetics, and PIP2 (phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphophate) modulation. Thus, thermo-TRP channels contain an interchangeable specific region, different from the voltage sensor, which allows them to sense temperature stimuli.

Estudio multicéntrico de albendazole en el tratamiento de helmintiasis intestinal / Multicenter study of albendazol in the treatment of intestinal helminthiasis

La helmintiasis es una parasitosis frecuente en países tropicales y por lo tanto en nuestro medio. El albendazole aparece como una sustancia que presenta una alternativa más en el tratamiento de las helmintiasis con buenos resultados para los áscaris, uncinarias, trichuris y estrongilides, habiéndo poca reacción a los efectos secundarios que puedan presentarse. Se aconpaña al presente trabajo los protocolos llevados en cada caso en particular