Chemical characterization and antioxidant potential of ecuadorian propolis.

The chemical composition and the antioxidant potential of Ecuadorian propolis samples (n = 19) collected in different provinces were investigated. HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn and GC-EI-MS analysis of the methanol extracts enabled us to define six types of Ecuadorian propolis based on their secondary metabolite composition. 68 compounds were identified, 59 of which are reported for the first time in Ecuadorian propolis. The detected compounds include flavonoids, diterpenes, triterpenes, organic acid derivatives, alkylresorcinol derivatives and nemorosone. Plants belonging to genera Populus, Mangifera and Clusia seemed to be vegetable sources employed by bees to produce Ecuadorian propolis. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of propolis extracts were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and ferric reducing/antioxidant potential assays, respectively. As expected, the variable chemical composition affected the differences in terms of antioxidant potential.

El papel de la familia en la autopercepción de calidad de vida del adulto mayor / The Family Role in the Older Adult's Self-Perception of Quality of Life

Introducción: El envejecimiento de la población en la actualidad es uno de los principales problemas a nivel mundial, debido al incremento en la esperanza de vida. Sin embargo, una mayor esperanza de vida no significa una mejor calidad de vida. Objetivo: Valorar el papel que desempeña la familia en la autopercepción de calidad de vida del adulto mayor. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo, observacional y transversal en adultos mayores aplicada en sujetos de ambos sexos en la provincia ecuatoriana de El Oro entre enero del 2018 y noviembre del 2019. La muestra quedó conformada por 399 pacientes. Los cuestionarios utilizados fueron: Valoración biopsicosocial del adulto mayor desde un enfoque bioético, y la Escala de Calidad de Vida WHOQOL-BREF. Resultados: El promedio de edad fue de 73,66 años ± 7,38 con un rango entre los 65 y 98 años. El 78,9 por ciento de los adultos mayores maltratados y el 75,9 por ciento de los adultos mayores con trato familiar regular refieren una calidad de vida deficiente. Solo el 18,3 por ciento de los adultos mayores bien tratados refirieron una calidad de vida deficiente, por lo que se observa una asociación entre el trato familiar y la percepción de la calidad de vida estadísticamente significativa. Se constató maltrato familiar por negligencia en los adultos mayores que refirieron una calidad de vida deficiente. Conclusiones: La familia posee un papel preponderante en la calidad de vida del adulto mayor(AU)

Introduction: Nowadays, population aging is one of the main problems worldwide, due to the increase in life expectancy. However, higher life expectancy does not mean better quality of life. Objective: To assess the role played by the family in the older adult's self-perception of quality of life. Methods: A descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study was carried out with older adults of both sexes in the Ecuadorian province of El Oro, between January 2018 and November 2019. The sample consisted of 399 patients. The questionnaires used were the Biopsychosocial Assessment of the Older Adult from a Bioethical Approach and the WHOQoL-BREF Quality of Life Scale. Results: The average age was 73.66 years ± 7.38 years, with a range between 65 and 98 years. A poor quality of life was reported by 78.9 percent of the mistreated older adults and 75.9 percent of the older adults with regular family treatment. Only 18.3 percent of the well-treated older adults reported a poor quality of life, which shows a statistically significant association between family treatment and perception of quality of life. Family mistreatment due to neglect was found in older adults who referred poor quality of life. Conclusions: The family has a preponderant role in the quality of life of the older adult(AU)