Physicochemical properties, metabolomic analysis, antioxidant and lipid - lowering activity of a functional beverage based on cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal) / Propiedades fisicoquímicas, análisis metabolómico, actividad antioxidante e hipolipemiante de una bebida funcional a base de cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal)

The physicochemical, microbiological and metabolomics analysis, antioxidant and lipid - lowering effect, and shelf life prediction of a functional beverage based on cocona pul p of SRN9 ecotype was to carry out. According to the results obtained, the beverage complies with all the characteristics of the Peruvian technical standard for juices, nectars and fruit beverages NTP 203.110:2009 and is within the limits established by th e sanitary technical standard NTS N° 071 - MINSA/DIGESA - V.01, with a shelf - life period of 4 months and 1 day. The metabolome regarding bioactive compounds showed the presence of 30 compounds, including several glycosylated flavonols, two flavanols, and two s permidines. Likewise, showed a lipid - lowering effect statistically significant (p < 0.05) about the serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides, with a mean reduction of 41.52 mg/dL for total cholesterol levels and 130.80 mg/dL for triglyceride lev els. This beverage could be an alternative for the treatment of atherosclerosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Se rea lizó el análisis fisicoquímico, microbiológico y metabolómico, efecto antioxidante e hipolipemiante, y vida útil de una bebida funcional a base de cocona ecotipo SRN9. De acuerdo a los resultados, la bebida cumple con las características de la norma técnic a peruana para jugos, néctares y bebidas de frutas NTP 203.110:2009 y se encuentra dentro de los límites establecidos por la norma técnica sanitaria NTS N° 071 - MINSA/DIGESA - V.01, con una vida útil de 4 meses y 1 día. Del perfil metabolómico se identificaro n 30 compuestos, entre ellos varios flavonoles glicosilados, dos flavanoles y dos espermidinas. Asimismo, mostró un efecto hipolipemiante estadísticamente significativo (p < 0,05) sobre los niveles séricos de colesterol total y triglicéridos, con una reduc ción media de 41,52 mg/dL y de 130,80 mg/dL para los niveles de colesterol total y de triglicéridos, respectivamente. Esta bebida podría ser una alternativa para el tratamiento de la aterosclerosis y prevención de enfermedades cardiovasculares.

Antioxidant, Antiproliferative and Anti-Enzymatic Capacities, Nutritional Analysis and UHPLC-PDA-MS Characterization of Ungurahui Palm Fruits (Oenocarpus bataua Mart) from the Peruvian Amazon.

Ungurahui, or Patawa, fruits are a popular fruit and medicinal food used in the Amazon. Here, we have studied nine natural populations of ungurahui from the Peruvian Amazon regarding their nutritional and biological activities, including metal composition, proximal analyses, cytotoxic, antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibition activities. Twenty-four compounds have been detected in these Peruvian natural populations by UHPLC-MS, including nine phenolic acids (peaks 1-6, 8, 9 and 11), four C-glycosyl flavonoids (peaks 12, 16, 17 and 18), two flavonols (peaks 7 and 10), one flavanol (peak 15), three anthocyanins (peaks 13, 14 and 22) and five resveratrol derivatives (peaks 19-21, 23 and 24). Sample 9, Tunaants, showed the highest DPPH clearing capacity regarding the content of Trolox equivalents (2208.79 µmol Trolox/g), but an ORAC test of the sample collected in San Lorenzo showed the highest clearing activity (1222.28 µmol Trolox/g) and the sample collected in Allpahuayo Mishana showed the most powerful ABTS (1803.72 µmol Trolox/g). The sample from Jenaro Herrera was the most powerful in AChe inhibition (IC50 2.05 ± 0.03 µg/mL), followed by the sample from Contamana (IC50 2.43 ± 0.12 µg/mL). In BChE inhibition, the sample from Palestina was the most active (4.42 ± 0.06 µg/mL), followed by samples from Tunaants and San Lorenzo. The differences among bioactivities can be related to the different growing conditions of the populations of ungurahui. The palm tree fruit proved to be a good source of natural antioxidants and dietary fatty acids, and their consumption represents an alternative for the prevention of neurodegenerative or related non-chronic transmittable diseases.

UHPLC-MS Characterization, and Antioxidant and Nutritional Analysis of Cocoa Waste Flours from the Peruvian Amazon.

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) is a food product used worldwide and a key raw material for chocolate manufacturing. Cocoa possesses bioactive compounds such as methylxanthines, flavonoids, procyanidins, and related molecules with medicinal or health-promoting properties. Cocoa shell and pod husk have been proposed as a by-product with several interesting bioactivities, and the gummy residue or glue (a sticky, gluey by-product known as "mucilage" in Spanish) is used to produce liquors and is eaten as a food in Perú. However, little is known about the chemical composition and bioactivity of flours made from Peruvian cocoa ecotype wastes such as those from the vein and pod husk of the fruits. This study aimed to characterize the in vitro antioxidant properties and nutritional values of flours made from the waste from a special ecotype of cocoa (CCN-51). The chemical fingerprinting was performed using UHPLC-HESI orbitrap mass spectrometry and allowed the detection of 51 compounds. GC-FID was used for the determination of individual fatty acid contents, and the antioxidant activity was assessed by several assays (DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS). The flours obtained were composed of a good amount of dietary fiber, carbohydrates, and minerals, as well as several bioactive polyphenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids with nutraceutical properties, making the flours a rich and promising food as well as a good source for the preparation of functional foods or nutraceuticals.

Antihyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Capacities, Nutritional Analysis and UHPLC-PDA-MS Characterization of Cocona Fruits (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal) from the Peruvian Amazon.

Cocona fruits are a popular food and medicinal fruit used mainly in the Amazon and several countries of South America for the preparation of several food products such as drinks, jams and milk shakes. In this study five ecotypes of cocona native to Peru have been studied regarding their nutritional and antioxidants values plus antihyperlipidemic activities. Seventy bioactive compounds have been detected in Peruvian cocona ecotypes including several phenolic acids, aminoacids and flavonoids; of those six were spermidines, (peaks 1, 2, 25, 26, 38 and 39), thirteen were aminoacids, (peaks 3-9, 11-13, 16, 17, 22-24), eighteen flavonoids (peaks 28, 30-32 45,46, 48-53 56, 57, 61 and 64-66), twelve were phenolics (peaks 19, 21, 27, 29, 34, 35, 36, 42, 43, 44, 54, and 59), two carotenoids, (peak 62 and 63), eight were lipid derivatives (peaks 37, 55, 58, 60 and 67-70), one sugar (peak 47), four terpenes (peaks 33, 40, 41 and 47), two amides, (peaks 10 and 18), one aldehyde, (peak 15), and three saturated organic acids, (peaks 4, 5 and 20). Hypercholesterolemic rats administered with pulp of the ecotypes CTR and SRN9 showed the lowest cholesterol and triglyceride levels after treatment (126.74 ± 6.63; 102.11 ± 9.47; 58.16 ± 6.64; 61.05 ± 4.00 mg/dL, for cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein respectively, for the group treated with SRN9 pulp, and 130.09 ± 8.55; 108.51 ± 10.04; 57.30 ± 5.72; and 65.41 ± 7.68 mg/dL, for cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL lipoproteins respectively for the group treated with CTR pulp). The ecotypes proved to be good sources of natural antioxidants and their consumption represent an alternative for the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations, mutagenicity, and Microtox® acute toxicity testing of Peruvian crude oil and oil-contaminated water and sediment.

The oil industry is a major source of contamination in Peru, and wastewater and sediments containing oil include harmful substances that may have acute and chronic effects. This study determined polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations by GC/MS, mutagenicity using TA98 and TA100 bacterial strains with and without metabolic activation in the Muta-ChromoPlate™ test, and Microtox® 5-min EC50 values of Peruvian crude oil, and water and sediment pore water from the vicinity of San José de Saramuro on the Marañón River and Villa Trompeteros on the Corrientes River in Loreto, Peru. The highest total PAH concentration in both areas was found in water (Saramuro = 210.15 µg/ml, Trompeteros = 204.66 µg/ml). Total PAH concentrations in water from San José de Saramuro ranged from 9.90 to 210.15 µg/ml (mean = 66.48 µg/ml), while sediment pore water concentrations ranged from 2.19 to 70.41 µg/ml (mean = 24.33 µg/ml). All water samples tested from Saramuro and Trompeteros sites, and one out of four sediment pore water samples from Trompeteros, were found to be mutagenic (P < 0.001). One sediment pore water sample in Saramuro was determined to have a measurable toxicity (Microtox EC50 = 335.1 mg/l), and in Trompeteros, the EC50 in water and sediment pore water ranged from 25.67 to 133.86 mg/l. Peruvian crude oil was mutagenic using the TA98 strain with metabolic activation, and the EC50 was 17.18 mg/l. The two areas sampled had very high PAH concentrations that were most likely associated with oil activities, but did not lead to acute toxic effects. However, since most of the samples were mutagenic, it is thought that there is a greater potential for chronic effects.

Improving linezolid use decreases the incidence of resistance among Gram-positive microorganisms.

Surveillance studies have shown the emergence of infections with linezolid-resistant bacteria. The relationship between appropriate linezolid use and the spread of linezolid resistance among Gram-positive microorganisms in a single tertiary referral centre was evaluated. In an initial observational study, a prospective prescription-indication study was conducted on intensive care areas and haematology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery and nephrology wards during 2009. An intervention through follow-up feedback on audit results from May-June 2010 was then conducted. From July-December 2010, a second drug-use study of linezolid was conducted, with the same objectives and methodology. To assess the antimicrobial pressure of linezolid, an ecological study was conducted from 2006-2010 in the same hospital wards. Indications for linezolid in the initial study were considered suitable in 38.5% of cases, whilst in the second study the rate was 51.2% (33% increase). Linezolid consumption fell by 57% in the second half of 2010. A significant correlation was found between its inadequate use (DDD/1000 patient-days) and the incidence of linezolid-resistant strains/1000 patient-days (r=0.93; P=6.9e-024); 85% of the variability in the incidence of linezolid resistance was predicted by its inadequate use. Its partial correlations were significant for Enterococcus faecium (r=0.407; P=0.049), Staphylococcus epidermidis (r=0.874; P=2.3e-008) and Staphylococcus haemolyticus (r=0.406; P=0.049) but not Staphylococcus aureus (r=0.051; P=0.704). A relationship was found between appropriate linezolid use and the incidence of linezolid-resistant strains of E. faecium, S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus.

Drug-induced life-threatening potassium disturbances detected by a pharmacovigilance program from laboratory signals.

PURPOSE: Detection and reporting of drug-induced life-threatening potassium disturbances and the study of associated factors under a Pharmacovigilance Program using Laboratory Signals at a Hospital (PPLSH) during a 2-year period. METHODS: All serum potassium levels <2 mmol/l or >7 mmol/l detected at admission to the hospital, including those of patients who died in the emergency ward or during hospitalization, were monitored prospectively from January 2009 through to December 2010. The incidence rate of each etiology of potassium disturbances was calculated. Factors associated with drug-induced potassium disturbances were detected using a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: The incidence of true life-threatening drug-induced hyper- and hypokalemia events was 3 and 4.32 (Poisson 95 % confidence interval 1.62-10.24), respectively, per 10,000 admissions. Of the severe potassium disturbances, 32.3 % were drug-induced, and 23 % were lethal. We identified previously undescribed pharmacological causes of hyperkalemia (risedronate, doxazosin) and hypokalemia (acyclovir, teicoplanin, cefepime, meropenem, dexketoprofen colistimethate). Significant predictor factors associated with drug-induced hyperkalemia were the use of polypharmacy (>5 drugs), age (>74 years), sex (female) and kidney disease (glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min) with the presence of ≥4 comorbid conditions. The only predictor of drug-induced hypokalemia was the use of >5 drugs. The triggering factor associated with drug-induced hyperkalemia and hypokalemia was azotemia and hypoalbuminemia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-induced life-threatening potassium disturbances remain a relevant problem. Potential strategies for prevention are to avoid polypharmacy, early discontinuation of treatment of drugs causing hyperkalemia or nephrotoxicity in cases of various clinical situations (cardiac descompensation, infection, hypovolemia) or obstructive causes, and insistence on albumin control during hospitalization.