Antibacterial and free-radical scavenging activities of Sonoran propolis.

AIMS: To evaluate the antibacterial and free-radical scavenging (FRS) activities of propolis collected from three different areas of Sonoran Desert in northwestern Mexico [Pueblo de Alamos (PAP), Ures (UP) and Caborca (CP)]. METHODS AND RESULTS: The antibacterial and FRS activities of Sonoran propolis were determined by the broth microdilution method and the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydracyl) assay, respectively. Propolis samples had antibacterial activity against only Gram-positive bacteria. The UP sample showed the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus [minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 100 microg ml(-1)] in a concentration-dependent manner (UP > CP > PAP). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a UP propolis constituent, had very high growth-inhibitory activity towards Gram-positive bacteria, particularly against S. aureus (MIC 0.1 mmol l(-1)). To our knowledge, this is the first study showing a strong antibacterial activity of CAPE against S. aureus. Additionally, propolis CP exhibited high FRS activity (86% +/- 0.3 at 100 microg ml(-1)) comparable with those of the reference antioxidants vitamin C (87.4% +/- 1.7 at 70 micromol l(-1)) and BHT (66.07% +/- 0.76 at 140 micromol l(-1)). The propolis compounds CAPE and rutin showed high FRS activity (90.4% +/- 0.2 and 88.5% +/- 0.8 at 70 micromol l(-1), respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sonoran propolis UP and CAPE had strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus. In addition, propolis CP showed potent FRS activity comparable with those of vitamin C and BHT. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The strong antibacterial and antioxidant properties of Sonoran propolis and some of its constituents support further studies on the clinical applications of this natural bee product against S. aureus and several oxidative damage-related diseases.

Dietary fish oil affects food intake, growth and hematologic values of weanling rats.

The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing amounts of dietary fish oil on growth and hematological variables of the weanling male Sprague-Dawley rat. Animals were fed diets containing either fish oil (FO) or sesame oil (SO) at 5, 10 or 15% (w/w) for 31 d. Growth retardation and reduced food intake was noted in groups fed FO. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration diminished when the dietary FO was above 5% (w/w). FO is a poor source of (n-6) fatty acids. We postulate that a partial deficiency in (n-6) polyenic family, is a consequence of the increasing amounts of FO in the diets, that may affect growth and erytropoiesis. In this report we show evidence supporting the hypothesis that diets enriched with fish oil can alter normal growth and induced hematological changes in the male weanling rat.

Incidencia de enfermedad trofoblástica en el Hospital Gineco Obstetrico Isidro Ayora en 1983

Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo de enfermdead trofoblástica en el Hospital Gineco Obstétrico "Isidro Ayora" en el año 1983. Se discuten los factores que pueden influir en su génesis como edad, número de gestaciones y condiciones socioeconómicas. La incidencia para dicha parología en el año indicado es de 1 por cada 688 gestaciones

Incidencia del parto prematuro en el Hospital Isidro Ayora

El presente es un estudio retrospectivo de 111 partos prematuros que se produjeron en el hospital Gineco-obstétrico "Isidro Ayora" en el período comprendido entre enero y junio de 1982. Se analizan diferentes parámetros epidemiológicos como número de gestaciones maternas, edad del embarazo, peso del neonato, modalidad de terminación del embarazo, existencia de sufrimiento fetal y de ruptura prematura de membranas, toxemia, control prenatal, antecedentes de abortos, estado civil y condiciones sociales y culturales, los mismos que discutimos con las experiencias de otros autores