Phytochemical and Pharmacological Study of the Eysenhardtia Genus.

The participation of natural products in health care has been remarkable, and today they continue to play a key role in the discovery and development of new treatments. Phytochemical studies together with pharmacological tests have managed to integrate bioactive agents as an alternative solution to reduce or regulate the problems caused by diseases. The Eysenhardtia genus is a family of plants that are rich in secondary metabolites, which have shown potential activity in the control and mitigation of urinary disorders, diabetes, oxidative stress, protein glycosylation, microbial infections, inflammation, pain or discomfort, muscle contractions, cytotoxicity, or as a cellular or neuronal signaling modulator. These conditions generally appear in comorbid diseases, which motivated the bibliographic review associated with the plant. This document presents the beneficial actions produced by Eysenhardtia extracts and/or bioactives to inhibit, control, or reduce the complications or discomfort of degenerative diseases and thus generate new therapeutic alternatives.

Antidiabetic Activity of Aloe vera Leaves.

This research evaluated the potential of using the methanol extract of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f (AVM) to prevent the formation of AGEs by means of the BSA/glucose assay, BSA-methylglyoxal assay, arginine-methylglyoxal assay, fructosamine, Nɛ-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), thiol groups, and carbonyl protein in vitro. The effect of AVM was also evaluated with regard to inhibiting the enzymes α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and pancreatic lipase. For this, the plant was dried, ground, and subsequently macerated with methanol. Aloe vera methanol extract (AVM) significantly decreased the formation of AGEs, as well as the formation of fructosamine, CML, and carbonyl protein. The concentration of 5 mg/ml of AVM presented the best results. AVM significantly inhibited the α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. As regards the content of thiol groups, a significant increase was observed during the four weeks of the experiment. So, we can conclude that Aloe vera methanol extract decreases the formation of AGEs and may inhibit the increase in postprandial glucose, suggesting that AVM can prevent diabetes complications associated with AGE.

Antioxidant Activity and In Vitro Antiglycation of the Fruit of Spondias purpurea.

Hyperglycemia in diabetes mellitus causes irreversible life-threatening micro- and macrovascular complications. There is evidence that the glycation reaction leads to a chemical modification of the proteins contributing to the complications of diabetes. It is known that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed by glycation and oxidation reactions called glycoxidation. CML, a nonfluorescent AGE, has become a biomarker of glycoxidative damage; other AGEs appear to induce oxidative stress, which results in cytotoxicity. To determine antioxidant activity, the FRAP, DPPH, and TEAC tests were used, as well as the polyphenols content using Folin-Ciocalteu's method. To evaluate the antiglycation activity, the BSA/glucose system was used, and the fructosamine concentration, protein carbonyl content, thiol, and CML groups were determined. The results obtained show that the hexane extract of the fruit of Spondias purpurea (CFH) effectively inhibits the glycation reaction, in addition to increasing the thiol groups and decreasing levels of fructosamine, protein carbonyl, and CML. In addition, CFH presented significant antioxidant activity. CFH inhibits the glycation reaction; therefore, it can help prevent complications related to AGEs in diabetes mellitus; it also reduces oxidative stress and is effective in protecting proteins from oxidative damage.

In Vitro Inhibitory Activity of Acca sellowiana Fruit Extract on End Products of Advanced Glycation.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperglycemia plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, as it increases protein glycation, as well as the progressive accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are complex structures that produce fluorescence. The glycation reaction raises the levels of protein carbonyl, N ε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), and fructosamine and decreases the level of thiol groups. METHODS: In the present study, the antiglycation activity was determined by fluorescence intensity using the bovine serum albumin (BSA)/glucose, CML method, and the level of fructosamine. The oxidation of proteins was determined by the carbonyl protein content and thiol groups. RESULTS: The results show that the hexane extract of Acca sellowiana (FOH) at different concentrations (0.30-5 mg/ml) significantly inhibited the formation of AGEs in the BSA/glucose model during the 4 weeks of the study. FOH reduced the levels of fructosamine and CML. Our results showed a significant effect of FOH in the prevention of oxidative damage of proteins, as well as an effect on the oxidation of thiol groups and carbonyl proteins. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates that FOH is effective in inhibiting the glycation of proteins in vitro, so it can prevent or ameliorate the chronic conditions of diabetes associated with the formation of AGEs.

Detected trematodes inside blue-winged teals (Spatula discors) give insights on north-south flow of parasites through Cuba during migration.

The Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) is known for engaging in long-distance North-South migrations and back in the Americas with Cuba being an important wintering ground. Teals serve as hosts for a wide range of parasite species that can be "discharged" at each end of the migration route. Here, we explore for the first time the diversity of trematodes that the Blue-winged Teal may be introducing to -or exporting from- Cuba. We found 15 digenean parasites in 65 sampled teals of which 13 represent first reports for Cuba with one species (Echinostoma revolutum) of zoonotic importance. Overall prevalence was very high (96.92%) whereas Trichobilharzia spp. resulted the most ubiquitous parasite. Highest intensities were recorded for Australapatemon sp. (arriving teals) and Levinseniella amnicolae (departing teals). Altogether, departing teals harboured the highest number of trematode species and abundance. The short development and lifespan, inside migratory birds, of adult stages of trematodes like Trichobilharzia sp., Cotylurus flabelliformis and Microphallus pygmaeus strongly suggest that the occurrence of these trematodes in the departing teals could be related to their long establishment in Cuban ecosystems. In a global scenario where parasitology, particularly wildlife parasitology, is mostly overlooked, there should be an increasing need of gathering information and increasing surveillance of wildlife diseases that might eventually become important for the health of ecosystems and of domestic animals and humans. The present study constitutes the first major attempt to explore trematode infection from S. discors in Cuba under the view of parasite flow via bird migration.

Carcinoma intraductal micropapilar en un varón con microcalcificaciones como único hallazgo radiológico / Intraductal micropapillary carcinoma in a male patient exhibiting microcalcification as sole radiological finding

Presentamos el caso de un varón de 80 años de edad con carcinoma intraductal mamario que se inició con telorragia uniorificial como único signo clínico. Describimos los hallazgos radiológicos (microcalcificaciones lineales pleomórficas) e histológico (variante micropapilar intraductal), ambas de presentación muy poco frecuente. Se revisa la bibliografía al respecto (AU)

Resultado de tratamientos en carcinomas del suelo de la boca / Results of the tratment of tongue carcinomata

Se revisan 34 historias clínicas de pacientes portadores de carcinomas del suelo de la boca, que concurren al Hospital Oncológico de Santiago de Cuba, durante los años 1963-1969. Se toman, para evaluar los resultados de los tratamientos, 33 de las historias (1 paciente rehusó); la supervivencia global a los 5 años fue del 27,3 porciento, y varió, desde el 100 prciento en la etapa I hasta el 18,2 porciento en la IV. De los pacientes vivos, el 22,2 porciento presentaba actividad de la lesión. En esta serie no hay estabilización del número de fallecidos, a partir del tercer año. La selección terapéutica contempló la utilización de cirugía y radiaciones. Aparentemente los mejores resultados se obtuvieron con los procederes quirúrgicos(AU)