Epanorin, a lichen secondary metabolite, inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Epanorin (EP) is a secondary metabolite of the Acarospora lichenic species. EP has been found in lichenic extracts with antimicrobial activity, and UV-absorption properties have been described for closely related molecules; however, its antiproliferative activity in cancer cells has not yet been explored. It has been hypothesized that EP inhibits cancer cell growth. MCF-7 breast cancer cells, normal fibroblasts, and the non-transformed HEK-293 cell line were exposed to increasing concentrations of EP, and proliferation was assessed by the sulforhodamine-B assay. RESULTS: MCF-7 cells exposed to EP were examined for cell cycle progression using flow cytometry, and DNA fragmentation was examined using the TUNEL assay. In addition, EP's mutagenic activity was assessed using the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay. The data showed that EP inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 cells, and it induces cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 through a DNA fragmentation-independent mechanism. Furthermore, EP's lack of overt cytotoxicity in the normal cell line HEK-293 and human fibroblasts in cell culture is supported by the absence of mutagenic activity of EP. CONCLUSION: EP emerges as a suitable molecule for further studies as a potential antineoplastic agent.

Epanorin, a lichen secondary metabolite, inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND: Epanorin (EP) is a secondary metabolite of the Acarospora lichenic species. EP has been found in lichenic extracts with antimicrobial activity, and UV-absorption properties have been described for closely related molecules; however, its antiproliferative activity in cancer cells has not yet been explored. It has been hypothesized that EP inhibits cancer cell growth. MCF-7 breast cancer cells, normal fibroblasts, and the non-transformed HEK-293 cell line were exposed to increasing concentrations of EP, and proliferation was assessed by the sulforhodamine-B assay. RESULTS: MCF-7 cells exposed to EP were examined for cell cycle progression using flow cytometry, and DNA fragmentation was examined using the TUNEL assay. In addition, EP's mutagenic activity was assessed using the Salmonella typhimurium reverse mutation assay. The data showed that EP inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 cells, and it induces cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 through a DNA fragmentation-independent mechanism. Furthermore, EP's lack of overt cytotoxicity in the normal cell line HEK-293 and human fibroblasts in cell culture is supported by the absence of mutagenic activity of EP. CONCLUSION: EP emerges as a suitable molecule for further studies as a potential antineoplastic agent.

[Recommendations for palivizumab use. Update 2015]. / Recomendaciones sobre el uso de palivizumab. Actualización 2015.

This recommendation updates the Argentinean Pediatrics' Neonatal Committee (CEFEN) ones published in 2007. The respiratory syncytial virus is the most frequent agent for lower respiratory infection. Tiny premature, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and significant hemodynamic congenital heart disease babies are the most vulnerable populations. Palivizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against respiratory syncytial virus used in the cold season. These recommendations are based on the scientific review of the literature published up to date. We reinforce the importance of general prevention measures like hand hygiene and family education among others. During the predominant season of respiratory syncytial virus in our country (April to September) a monthly dose of intramuscular 15 mg/kg of palivizumab is recommended. The safety and effectiveness has been proved as well as a reduction in the hospitalizations rates. In addition, epidemiological data of previous years are provided here.

Esta recomendación actualiza la publicada en el año 2007 por el Comité de Estudios Fetoneonatales (CEFEN). El virus respiratorio sincicial es el agente etiológico más frecuente de infección respiratoria aguda baja. La población más vulnerable es la de los prematuros pequeños, los lactantes con displasia broncopulmonar y cardiopatías congénitas hemodinámicamente significativas. El palivizumab es un anticuerpo monoclonal humanizado contra el virus respiratorio sincicial, que se aplica durante la estación invernal. Estas recomendaciones surgen de la revisión crítica de la literatura publicada hasta la fecha. Destacamos la importancia de promover las medidas generales de prevención de infecciones, como la higiene de manos y la educación a la familia, entre otras. Durante la estación predominante de virus respiratorio sincicial en nuestro país (de abril a septiembre), se recomienda indicar, en la población de riesgo, una dosis mensual de 15 mg/kg de palivizumab por vía intramuscular. Esto ha demostrado ser seguro y efectivo y ha producido una reducción en las tasas de internación. Se adicionan datos epidemiológicos de nuestro país de años anteriores.

Mortality and morbidity of very low birth weight newborn infants assisted in Buenos Aires public hospitals.

INTRODUCTION: The Neonatal Network of Public Hospitals in the city of Buenos Aires closely monitors the progress of newborn infants with a birth weight less than 1500 g (very low birth weight, VLBW) because it largely contributes to neonatal morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the morbidity and mortality of VLBW infants and determine their riskadjusted mortality using the score of the South American Neonatal Network (Red Neonatal de los países del Conosur de América, NEOCOSUR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Live infants born in the network hospitals with a birth weight of 500-1499 g between 2008 and 2010 were included in the study. Data was recorded prospectively using a standardized methodology. Mortality, morbidity and risk-adjusted mortality rates according to the NEOCOSUR score were estimated. Results. There were 92,698 infants born during the study period. Of them, 1.26% weighed less than 1500 g at birth. Only 40.4% of these received a full course of antenatal corticosteroids. A total of 62.7% of these developed respiratory distress syndrome, 5.4% enterocolitis, 10.1% intracranial hemorrhage, and 13.4% severe retinopathy. Early sepsis was observed in 5.6%, and late sepsis in 9.6%. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was present in 10.7% of the cases. Neonatal mortality was 29.2%, and the adjusted mortality with no major malformations was 25.4%. Survival of infants with a birth weight of =750 g and a gestational age of =26 weeks was 50%. The observed/expected mortality ratio was 1.04, with a large variability. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of VLBW infants who received antenatal corticosteroids was low. The incidence of sepsis and the rate of infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity are high. The risk-adjusted mortality is higher than expected.

[Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): experience in a neonatal intensive care unit]. / Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea (ECMO): experiencia en una unidad de cuidado intensivo neonatal.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a poorly developed resource in Argentina, is a highly invasive rescue therapy, for critically ill patients with severe respiratory failure with or without associated cardiovascular failure and mortality probability near to 80%. This article reports the experience obtained with first patients treated with ECMO in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Hospital Garrahan at Buenos Aires. From April 2008 to January 2012, 17 patients were treated with veno-arterial ECMO. Survival rate was 59%, similar to international reports. Patients are being monitored to evaluate their long-term outcome.

Morbimortalidad de recién nacidos con menos de 1500 gramos asistidos en hospitales públicos de la ciudad de Buenos Aires / Mortality and morbidity of very low birth weight newborn infants assisted in Buenos Aires public hospitals

Introducción. La red neonatal de los hospitales públicos porteños desarrolla una estrecha vigilancia de la evolución de los neonatos con menos de 1500 g (RNMBPN), pues contribuyen en gran medida a la morbimortalidad neonatal. Objetivo. Analizar la morbimortalidad de los RNMBPN y determinar la mortalidad ajustada por riesgo utilizando el puntaje de la Red Neonatal de los países del cono sur de América (NEOCOSUR). Material y métodos. Se incluyeron todos los recién nacidos vivos en hospitales de la red con peso de 500-1500 g desde 2008 a 2010. Los datos se registraron prospectivamente con metodología estandarizada. Se calcularon las tasas de mortalidad, morbilidad y la mortalidad ajustada por riesgo según puntaje de NEOCOSUR. Resultados. En el período del estudio nacieron 92 698 niños de los cuales 1,26% pesó menos de 1500 g. Sólo 40,4% recibió corticoides antenatales completos. Un 62,7% desarrolló síndrome de difcultad respiratoria, 5,4% enterocolitis, 10,1% hemorragia endocraneana y 13,4% retinopatía grave. La sepsis precoz fue del 5,6%, la tardía de 9,6%. Un 10,7% presentó displasia broncopulmonar. La mortalidad neonatal fue del 29,2% y la ajustada sin malformados graves, 25,4%. La supervivencia de niños con peso =750 g y edad gestacional =26 semanas fue de 50%. El cociente mortalidad observada/esperada fue de 1,04, con gran variabilidad. Conclusiones. El porcentaje de RNMBP que recibió corticoides antenatales es bajo. La incidencia de sepsis y la proporción de niños con ROP grave son elevadas. La mortalidad ajustada por riesgo es superior a la esperada.

Introduction. The Neonatal Network of Public Hospitals in the city of Buenos Aires closely monitors the progress of newborn infants with a birth weight less than 1500 g (very low birth weight, VLBW) because it largely contributes to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Objective. To analyze the morbidity and mortality of VLBW infants and determine their riskadjusted mortality using the score of the South American Neonatal Network (Red Neonatal de los países del Conosur de América, NEOCOSUR). Material and Methods. Live infants born in the network hospitals with a birth weight of 500-1499 g between 2008 and 2010 were included in the study. Data was recorded prospectively using a standardized methodology. Mortality, morbidity and risk-adjusted mortality rates according to the NEOCOSUR score were estimated. Results. There were 92,698 infants born during the study period. Of them, 1.26% weighed less than 1500 g at birth. Only 40.4% of these received a full course of antenatal corticosteroids. A total of 62.7% of these developed respiratory distress syndrome, 5.4% enterocolitis, 10.1% intracranial hemorrhage, and 13.4% severe retinopathy. Early sepsis was observed in 5.6%, and late sepsis in 9.6%. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was present in 10.7% of the cases. Neonatal mortality was 29.2%, and the adjusted mortality with no major malformations was 25.4%. Survival of infants with a birth weight of =750 g and a gestational age of =26 weeks was 50%. The observed/expected mortality ratio was 1.04, with a large variability. Conclusions. The percentage of VLBW infants who received antenatal corticosteroids was low. The incidence of sepsis and the rate of infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity are high. The risk-adjusted mortality is higher than expected.

Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea (ECMO): Experiencia en una Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal / Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): Experience in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

La Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea (ECMO), aún poco desarrollada en la Argentina, es una terapia de rescate altamente invasiva, destinada a pacientes críticamente enfermos, con insuficiencia respiratoria grave y fallo cardiovascular asociado o sin él, y una probabilidad de mortalidad cercana al 80%. Este estudio comunica los primeros pacientes tratados con ECMO en el Área de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UCIN) del Hospital Garrahan, Buenos Aires. Desde abril 2008 a enero 2012 fueron tratados 17 pacientes con ECMO veno-arterial, con una supervivencia del 59%, similar a los informes internacionales. Los pacientes se encuentran en seguimiento, evaluándose la evolución a largo plazo.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a poorly developed resource in Argentina, is a highly invasive rescue therapy, for critically ill patients with severe respiratory failure with or without associated cardiovascular failure and mortality probability near to 80%. This article reports the experience obtained with first patients treated with ECMO in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Hospital Garrahan at Buenos Aires. From April 2008 to January 2012, 17 patients were treated with veno-arterial ECMO. Survival rate was 59%, similar to international reports. Patients are being monitored to evaluate their long-term outcome.

Morbimortalidad de recién nacidos con menos de 1500 gramos asistidos en hospitales públicos de la ciudad de Buenos Aires / Mortality and morbidity of very low birth weight newborn infants assisted in Buenos Aires public hospitals

Introducción. La red neonatal de los hospitales públicos porteños desarrolla una estrecha vigilancia de la evolución de los neonatos con menos de 1500 g (RNMBPN), pues contribuyen en gran medida a la morbimortalidad neonatal. Objetivo. Analizar la morbimortalidad de los RNMBPN y determinar la mortalidad ajustada por riesgo utilizando el puntaje de la Red Neonatal de los países del cono sur de América (NEOCOSUR). Material y métodos. Se incluyeron todos los recién nacidos vivos en hospitales de la red con peso de 500-1500 g desde 2008 a 2010. Los datos se registraron prospectivamente con metodología estandarizada. Se calcularon las tasas de mortalidad, morbilidad y la mortalidad ajustada por riesgo según puntaje de NEOCOSUR. Resultados. En el período del estudio nacieron 92 698 niños de los cuales 1,26% pesó menos de 1500 g. Sólo 40,4% recibió corticoides antenatales completos. Un 62,7% desarrolló síndrome de difcultad respiratoria, 5,4% enterocolitis, 10,1% hemorragia endocraneana y 13,4% retinopatía grave. La sepsis precoz fue del 5,6%, la tardía de 9,6%. Un 10,7% presentó displasia broncopulmonar. La mortalidad neonatal fue del 29,2% y la ajustada sin malformados graves, 25,4%. La supervivencia de niños con peso =750 g y edad gestacional =26 semanas fue de 50%. El cociente mortalidad observada/esperada fue de 1,04, con gran variabilidad. Conclusiones. El porcentaje de RNMBP que recibió corticoides antenatales es bajo. La incidencia de sepsis y la proporción de niños con ROP grave son elevadas. La mortalidad ajustada por riesgo es superior a la esperada.(AU)

Introduction. The Neonatal Network of Public Hospitals in the city of Buenos Aires closely monitors the progress of newborn infants with a birth weight less than 1500 g (very low birth weight, VLBW) because it largely contributes to neonatal morbidity and mortality. Objective. To analyze the morbidity and mortality of VLBW infants and determine their riskadjusted mortality using the score of the South American Neonatal Network (Red Neonatal de los países del Conosur de América, NEOCOSUR). Material and Methods. Live infants born in the network hospitals with a birth weight of 500-1499 g between 2008 and 2010 were included in the study. Data was recorded prospectively using a standardized methodology. Mortality, morbidity and risk-adjusted mortality rates according to the NEOCOSUR score were estimated. Results. There were 92,698 infants born during the study period. Of them, 1.26% weighed less than 1500 g at birth. Only 40.4% of these received a full course of antenatal corticosteroids. A total of 62.7% of these developed respiratory distress syndrome, 5.4% enterocolitis, 10.1% intracranial hemorrhage, and 13.4% severe retinopathy. Early sepsis was observed in 5.6%, and late sepsis in 9.6%. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was present in 10.7% of the cases. Neonatal mortality was 29.2%, and the adjusted mortality with no major malformations was 25.4%. Survival of infants with a birth weight of =750 g and a gestational age of =26 weeks was 50%. The observed/expected mortality ratio was 1.04, with a large variability. Conclusions. The percentage of VLBW infants who received antenatal corticosteroids was low. The incidence of sepsis and the rate of infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity are high. The risk-adjusted mortality is higher than expected.(AU)

Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea (ECMO): Experiencia en una Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal / Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): Experience in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

La Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea (ECMO), aún poco desarrollada en la Argentina, es una terapia de rescate altamente invasiva, destinada a pacientes críticamente enfermos, con insuficiencia respiratoria grave y fallo cardiovascular asociado o sin él, y una probabilidad de mortalidad cercana al 80%. Este estudio comunica los primeros pacientes tratados con ECMO en el Area de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal (UCIN) del Hospital Garrahan, Buenos Aires. Desde abril 2008 a enero 2012 fueron tratados 17 pacientes con ECMO veno-arterial, con una supervivencia del 59%, similar a los informes internacionales. Los pacientes se encuentran en seguimiento, evaluándose la evolución a largo plazo.(AU)

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a poorly developed resource in Argentina, is a highly invasive rescue therapy, for critically ill patients with severe respiratory failure with or without associated cardiovascular failure and mortality probability near to 80%. This article reports the experience obtained with first patients treated with ECMO in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Hospital Garrahan at Buenos Aires. From April 2008 to January 2012, 17 patients were treated with veno-arterial ECMO. Survival rate was 59%, similar to international reports. Patients are being monitored to evaluate their long-term outcome.(AU)

Spectroscopic and photochemical properties of the lichen compound lobaric acid.

Lichens synthesize and accumulate photoprotective compounds against possible damage induced by UV radiation in the photobiont. A biological model has been recently formulated that allows the use of lichens to evaluate changes at different UV radiation levels. The thermodynamics, photophysical and photochemical properties of lobaric acid were studied in acetonitrile, ethanol and Brij 35(3%) micelles at different pH values. Also the sun protector factor (SPF) was determined by in vitro methods. Lobaric acid was extracted from Stereoculon alpinum Laur. and characterized by means of standard procedures. Solutions were irradiated in oxygen and under nitrogen conditions with a UV medium pressure lamp. Lobaric acid absorbs at 287, 303 nm, and no fluorescence emission was observed. The maximum value of the molar extinction coefficient (5479.6 M(-1) cm(-1)) was obtained in Brij 35 at pH 12. Solubility is pH dependant and is highest in Brij 35 at pH 12 (4.45 x 10(-4) M). Photoconsumption quantum yields ranged between 10(-4) and 10(-5) in aerobic and anaerobic experimental conditions. Lobaric acid SPF was very low (0.5) compared with homosalate (4.0), (reference solar filter). Two pKa values, 5.05 (carboxylic acid group deprotonation) and 9.75 (phenolic OH deprotonation), were determined.

Protection against UVB irradiation by natural filters extracted from lichens.

Natural substances extracted from lichens and boldo tree were tested in vivo and in vitro as possible UV-light filters. The protection factors were compared with that found for the references: Nivea sun Spray LSF 5, octylmethoxycinnamate (OMC) and 4-tert.-butyl-4'-methoxy dibenzoylmethane (BM-DBM). The stability of the single compounds was studied through UV-Vis spectroscopy. Usnic acid resulted to be the best UVB filter, with an in vivo protection factor similar to Nivea sun Spray LSF 5. Most of the single compounds studied in vitro resulted to have higher or similar filtering power than octylmethoxycinnamate. The protection factors as well as the good UV-light absorption of their photo-products suggest that these natural substances may be useful as new filters in sun-screen preparations.