Enhanced mesoscale climate projections in TAR and AR5 IPCC scenarios: a case study in a Mediterranean climate (Araucanía Region, south central Chile).

Climate change scenarios are computed on a large scale, not accounting for local variations presented in historical data and related to human scale. Based on historical records, we validate a baseline (1962-1990) and correct the bias of A2 and B2 regional projections for the end of twenty-first century (2070-2100) issued from a high resolution dynamical downscaled (using PRECIS mesoscale model, hereinafter DGF-PRECIS) of Hadley GCM from the IPCC 3rd Assessment Report (TAR). This is performed for the Araucanía Region (Chile; 37°-40°S and 71°-74°W) using two different bias correction methodologies. Next, we study high-resolution precipitations to find monthly patterns such as seasonal variations, rainfall months, and the geographical effect on these two scenarios. Finally, we compare the TAR projections with those from the recent Assessment Report 5 (AR5) to find regional precipitation patterns and update the Chilean `projection. To show the effects of climate change projections, we compute the rainfall climatology for the Araucanía Region, including the impact of ENSO cycles (El Niño and La Niña events). The corrected climate projection from the high-resolution dynamical downscaled model of the TAR database (DGF-PRECIS) show annual precipitation decreases: B2 (-19.19 %, -287 ± 42 mm) and A2 (-43.38 %, -655 ± 27.4 mm per year. Furthermore, both projections increase the probability of lower rainfall months (lower than 100 mm per month) to 64.2 and 72.5 % for B2 and A2, respectively.

Subjects with impaired fasting glucose: evolution in a period of 6 years.

AIM: To study the evolution of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), considering glucose and HbA1c levels and risk factors associated, in a period of 6 years. METHODS: We studied 94 subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) that were diagnosed in 2005 and followed up to 2012. Glucose and HbA1c levels were determined. A descriptive analysis of contingence charts was performed in order to study the evolution in the development of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). RESULTS: Twenty-eight of ninety-four subjects became T2DM; 51/94 remained with IFG; and 20/94 presented normal fasting glucose. From the 28 diabetic subjects, 9 had already developed diabetes and were under treatment with oral hypoglycemic agents; 5 were diagnosed with plasma glucose < 126 mg/dL, but with HbA1c over 6.5%. In those who developed diabetes, 15/28 had a family history of T2DM in first relative degree. Also, diabetic subjects had a BMI significantly higher than nodiabetics (t test: P < 0.01). The individuals that in 2005 had the highest BMI are those who currently have diabetes. CONCLUSION: The IFG constitutes a condition of high risk of developing T2DM in a few years, especially over 110 mg/dL and in obesity patients.

Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus (D.C) Stapf) polyphenols protect human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) from oxidative damage induced by high glucose, hydrogen peroxide and oxidised low-density lipoprotein.

The aromatic herb Cymbopogon citratus Stapf is widely used in tropical and subtropical countries in cooking, as a herbal tea, and in traditional medicine for hypertension and diabetes. Some of its properties have been associated with the in vitro antioxidant effect of polyphenols isolated from their aerial parts. However, little is known about C. citratus effects on endothelial cells oxidative injury. Using chromatographic procedures, a polyphenol-rich fraction was obtained from C. citratus (CCF) and their antioxidant properties were assessed by cooper-induced LDL oxidation assay. The main constituents of the active CCF, identified by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS), were chlorogenic acid, isoorientin and swertiajaponin. CCF 10 and 100 µg/ml diminishes reactive oxidative species (ROS) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs), challenged with high D-glucose (60% inhibition), hydrogen peroxide (80% inhibition) or oxidised low-density lipoprotein (55% inhibition). CCF 10 or 100 µg/ml did not change nitric oxide (NO) production. However, CCF was able to inhibit vasoconstriction induced by the thromboxane A2 receptor agonist U46619, which suggest a NO-independent vasodilatador effect on blood vessels. Our results suggest that lemon grass antioxidant properties might prevent endothelial dysfunction associated to an oxidative imbalance promoted by different oxidative stimuli.

Respuesta histológica completa a la neoadyuvancia en cáncer gástrico avanzado / Histological complete response after neoadjuvant therapy in advanced gastric cancer

Introduction: this article describes the first case in Peru where a patient with an advanced gastric cancer showed pathologic complete response to neoadjuvance indicated due an extensive involvement of paraaortic and celiac trunk lymph nodes. Clinical case: 51 year old female patient, after 4 cycles of chemotherapy, the former with epirubicin, cisplatin and capecitabine and the remaining three with epirubicin, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, a complete response was obtained from the tomographic point of view. Later patient underwent total gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. Microscopic examination of the surgical specimen verified only scar tissue without evidence of malignancy in both, the stomach and the lymph nodes removed. Further we present a review of the relevant medical literature to date.

Introducción: el presente artículo describe el primer caso en el Perú en el que una paciente con cáncer gástrico avanzado ha mostrado respuesta completa histopatológica a neoadyuvancia. Caso clínico: paciente mujer de 51 años con cáncer gástrico con un extenso compromiso ganglionar para-aórtico y a nivel del tronco celíaco. Luego de 4 ciclos de quimioterapia, el primero con epirrubicina, cisplatino y capecitabina y los 3 restantes con epirrubicina, cisplatino y 5-fluoruracilo, se obtiene una respuesta completa desde el punto de vista tomográfico, por ello la paciente fue sometida a gastrectomía total con linfadenectomía D2 verificándose en el examen microscópico de la pieza operatoria sólo tejido cicatricial sin evidencias de neoplasia maligna tanto en el estómago como en los ganglios linfáticos resecados. A propósito del caso se hace una revisión de la literatura médica relevante actualizada.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and liver enzymes in individuals with Metabolic Syndrome in Talca, Chile.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a core set of disorders, including abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia that together predict the development of diabetes type 2 and cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the relationship between liver enzyme levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in subjects with and without MS. Alanine-aminotransferase (ALAT), aspartate-aminotransferase (ASAT), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and hs-CRP were measured in 510 subjects, aged 40 to 65 years old. Patients were selected from 1007 subjects from the Research Program for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Talca, Chile. Results showed that women with MS presented higher liver enzyme levels than those who did not have MS. This was not observed in male patients for the enzymes ALAT and ASAT. However, GGT and hs-PCR levels were higher in male and female patients with MS than in those without MS. In conclusion, it is important to search for the presence of MS when diagnosing fatty liver. Moreover, the presence of liver disease in patients with MS should be further investigated.

Management of Potato Late Blight in the Peruvian Highlands: Evaluating the Benefits of Farmer Field Schools and Farmer Participatory Research.

Farmer field school programs incorporating farmer participatory research (FPR-FFS) have the potential to provide important benefits to their participants and to other farmers who benefit from improved cultivars and management techniques. An FPR-FFS program in San Miguel, Cajamarca, Peru, has been in place since 1999 with an emphasis on management of potato late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, the most important problem facing Andean potato growers. Farmers' knowledge of late blight was surveyed to determine useful components for the FPR-FFS curriculum. The benefits to participants of FPR-FFS programs were evaluated first by measuring knowledge of late blight management of participants and nonparticipants. Studies of the Peruvian FPR-FFS program indicate that participants are more knowledgeable and that their expertise further increases after an additional year of participation. The benefits to participants can be evaluated more directly by comparing the productivity of participants' farms compared with nonparticipants' farms. For the Peruvian FPR-FFS program, participants had significantly higher average levels of productivity. The benefits of FPR-FFS programs for the development of better cultivars and management techniques can be evaluated indirectly in terms of improved estimates of performance. Estimates of the overall performance of a particular cultivar or technique become more precise as data from more sites are included in calculating the estimate. A more direct evaluation of benefits from FPR-FFS input may be based on the ability of farmers in FPR-FFS programs to eliminate undesirable genotypes and to recommend desirable genotypes based on criteria in addition to those used by breeders.

Bioavailability of PAHs in the Biobio river (Chile): MFO activity and biliary fluorescence in juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss.

Cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase (MFO) activity and levels of bile PAH metabolites were measured in fish (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to Biobio river (Chile) water. Experiments were performed simultaneously in both the field and laboratory to investigate whether the river water contained notable bioavailable PAH fractions. The field experiment was conducted using fish caged for 41 days at La Mochita (Biobio river mouth) whereas the laboratory experiment involved a 21-day exposure treatment with water collected in the same area. Induction of hepatic MFO, assayed by benzo(a)pyrene monooxygenase activity (BaPMO), and levels of PAH metabolites in the bile were measured in groups of eight (field experiment) and four specimens (laboratory experiment) sampled after 5, 10, 21 and 41 days of exposure. BaPMO was induced by a factor of 23 and 25 in fish caged for 21 and 41 days, respectively. Likewise, a significant BaPMO induction was found in the fish group experimentally exposed to river water for 21 days. Biliary fluorescence measurements, recorded by fixed wavelength fluorescence (FF) and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS), revealed significantly high levels of PAH metabolites in bile samples of fish caged for 21 and 41 days. A positive relationship was found between BaPMO activity and biliary PAH metabolites. This study provides evidences that (i) Biobio river water contains a significant bioavailable PAH fraction in terms of marked effects on fish and (ii) the biological indicators MFO activity and bile PAH metabolites represent an excellent screening methodology to assess PAH exposure.