Neuralgia del Trigémino, del Glosofaríngeo y Post-herpética en Pacientes del Hospital Universitario San Ignacio (HUSI) Bogota, Colombia

RESUMEN: Determinar las características clínicas, pautas para el diagnóstico, tratamiento y evolución de la neuralgia del trigémino, postherpética y del nervio glosofaríngeo. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de 119 historias clínicas de pacientes diagnosticados con neuralgia del trigémino, glosofaríngeo y postherpética tratados en el Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, registrando datos de sexo, edad, antecedentes médicos, exámenes complementarios, características clínicas, tratamientos y evolución. Se revisaron 119 historias clínicas, de las cuales 86 pertenecían a mujeres y 33 a hombres, el 84 % correspondían a neuralgias del trigémino, el 11,7 º% a post- herpética, y el 2,5% en el glosofaríngeo. El lado afectado más común fue el lado izquierdo con un 54%, las ramas más afectadas en la neuralgia del trigémino fue la maxilar y mandibular (V2- V3), en la postherpética la oftálmica (V1), la patología concomitante más frecuente hallada en el grupo fue la HTA, el tipo de dolor más frecuente fue el lancinante con un 82,4%. Los medicamentos más utilizados fueron la carbamazepina (60,5%) seguida de pregabalina (29,4%), en tratamientos quirúrgicos la radiofrecuencia fue la más empleada en un 32 %. 30 pacientes presentaron recaídas que en general fueron manejadas con aumento de las dosis de los medicamentos. Este estudio muestra una similitud con la literatura reportada, presentando más casos de neuralgia de trigémino, seguida de la post herpética y por último del glosofaríngeo. Más frecuente en mujeres, con un promedio de edad de 60 años, afectando en mayor proporción la rama mandibular y maxilar en la neuralgia de trigémino y en la postherpética la oftálmica.

ABSTRACT: To determine the clinical characteristics, guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and evolution of trigeminal neuralgia, postherpetic neuralgia and glossopharyngeal neu- ralgia. A descriptive study of 119 clinical histories of patients diagnosed with Trigeminal Neoplasia, glossopharyngeal and postherpetic treated at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, recording data such as: gender, age, medical history, diagnostic exams, clinical features, branches and side of the face affected, treatments and evolution. 86 clinical records of women and 33 of men were evaluated, 100 with trigeminal neuralgia, 14 postherpetic, 3 glossopharyngeal, the most common affected side was the left side with 51%, the most affected branches in trigeminal neuralgia was the V2-V3, postherpetic V1, the most frequent antecedent of the neuralgias was the AHT, the type of pain that was more frequent was the lancinanting with 82.4%. The most commonly used medication was carbamazepine (60.5%) and pregabalin (29.4%); in surgical treatments radiofrequency was the most used in 32%; 30 patients had relapses that were generally managed with increased doses. This study shows a similarity with the reported literature, presenting more cases of trigeminal neuralgia, followed by the herpetic and finally the glossopharyngeal neuralgia, finding more cases in women than in men, with an average age of 60 years, affecting in Greater proportion the mandibular and maxillary branch in the trigeminal neuralgia and in the postherpetic ophthalmic.

Synthesis and characterization of zeolite-based composites functionalized with nanoscale zero-valent iron for removing arsenic in the presence of selenium from water.

We studied the sorption of As(V) in single and multi-component (As(V)-Se(VI)) aqueous systems using nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and nZVI-functionalized zeolite (Z-nZVI) adsorbents. Morphological and physico-chemical characterization of the adsorbents was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface area and electrophoretic mobility measurements. SEM and XRD analyses showed that Fe-nanoparticle size and crystallinity were better preserved in Z-nZVI than nZVI after As(V) sorption. Highly efficient As(V) removal was achieved for all tested adsorbents with a minimal competition effect of Se(VI). In the single-component system, the equilibrium As(V) sorption time on nZVI and Z-nZVI was 40 and 60 min, respectively, while in the multi-component system, this time was 90 min for both the adsorbents. The Freundlich and pseudo-second-order models provided good fittings for the experimental sorption data (r2>0.96). The As(V) removal capacity was higher using Z-nZVI than nZVI both in the single and multi-component systems, suffering minimal differences in removal in both cases. The results suggested that Z-nZVI had more specific surface sites for As(V) than nZVI and zeolite, which makes Z-nZVI a more effective adsorbent than nZVI for the removal of As(V) from aqueous solutions in the presence of other oxyanions.

Combining in vitro and in silico approaches to evaluate the multifunctional profile of rosmarinic acid from Blechnum brasiliense on targets related to neurodegeneration.

Natural products are important sources of chemical diversity leading to unique scaffolds that can be exploited in the discovery of new drug candidates or chemical probes. In this context, chemical and biological investigation of ferns and lycophytes occurring in Brazil is an approach adopted by our research group aiming at discovering bioactive molecules acting on neurodegeneration targets. In the present study, rosmarinic acid (RA) isolated from Blechnum brasiliense showed an in vitro multifunctional profile characterized by antioxidant effects, and monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B) and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibition. RA showed antioxidant effects against hydroxyl (HO(•)) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals (IC50 of 29.4 and 140 µM, respectively), and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (IC50 of 19.6 µM). In addition, RA inhibited MAO-A, MAO-B and COMT enzymes with IC50 values of 50.1, 184.6 and 26.7 µM, respectively. The MAO-A modulation showed a non-time-dependent profile, suggesting a reversible mechanism of inhibition. Structural insights on RA interactions with MAO-A and COMT were investigated by molecular docking. Finally, RA (up to 5 mM) demonstrated no cytotoxicity on polymorphonuclear rat cells. Taken together, our results suggest that RA may be exploited as a template for the development of new antioxidant molecules possessing additional MAO and COMT inhibition effects to be further investigated on in vitro and in vivo models of neurodegenerative diseases.

Kinetics of the Reaction of Pyrogallol Red, a Polyphenolic Dye, with Nitrous Acid: Role of ŸNO and ŸNO2.

In the present work we studied the reaction under gastric conditions of pyrogallol red (PGR), a polyphenolic dye, with nitrous acid (HONO). PGR has been used as a model polyphenol due to its strong UV-visible absorption and its high reactivity towards reactive species (radicals and non-radicals, RS). The reaction was followed by UV-visible spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A clear decrease of the PGR absorbance at 465 nm was observed, evidencing an efficient bleaching of PGR by HONO. In the initial stages of the reaction, each HONO molecule nearly consumed 2.6 PGR molecules while, at long reaction times, ca. 7.0 dye molecules were consumed per each reacted HONO. This result is interpreted in terms of HONO recycling. During the PGR-HONO reaction, nitric oxide was generated in the micromolar range. In addition, the rate of PGR consumption induced by HONO was almost totally abated by argon bubbling, emphasising the role that critical volatile intermediates, such as ŸNO and/or nitrogen dioxide (ŸNO2), play in the bleaching of this phenolic compound.

Chemical analysis, antioxidant, antichemotactic and monoamine oxidase inhibition effects of some pteridophytes from Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Ferns are a group of plants that have been little explored from a chemical and biological perspective but that have interesting potential, occurring in various parts of the world. OBJECTIVE: This work investigates the chemical profile and the biological effects of ferns from Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analyses were performed using rapid performance liquid chromatography (RP-LC) with a diode array detector (DAD). Extracts were tested for their in vitro antioxidant activity, by the total reactive antioxidant potential method and for their antichemotactic potential, by the Boyden chamber method. Cytotoxic effects were assessed by lactate dehydrogenase levels, while the monoamine oxidase (MAO) assay was carried out using a fluorescence-based method. RESULTS: Different chemical compositions were found for the studied ferns, such as Asplenium gastonis, in which hesperidin was identified in its extract, while A. serra showed the presence of xanthone mangiferin. The most samples with highest antioxidant activity were the Asplenium serra, Lastreopsis amplissima and Cyathea dichromatolepis extracts, at 10 µg/mL. High antichemotactic activity was found for A. serra (94.06%) and Didymochlaena truncatula (93.41%), at 10 µg/mL. The extracts showed no cytotoxicity at the highest concentration. Against MAO-A, D. truncatula (82.61%), Alsophila setosa (82.21%), Cyathea phalerata (74.07%) and C. delgadii (70.32%) were the most active extracts (100 µg/mL). CONCLUSION: The hypothesis was considered that phenolics and triterpenes are responsible for these pronounced activities.

Air pollution and hospitalization for acute complications of diabetes in Chile.

Exposure to air pollution has been shown to cause insulin resistance in mice. To determine the relevance to humans, we tested the association between daily air pollution concentrations and daily hospitalization for acute serious complications of diabetes, coma and ketoacidosis, in Santiago between 2001 and 2008, using generalized linear models with natural splines to control for long term trends. For an interquartile range (IQR) increase in air pollutant, the relative risks (95% CI) of hospitalization for diabetes were: 1.15 (1.10, 1.20) for carbon monoxide (IQR=1.00); 1.07 (0.98, 1.16) for ozone (IQR=63.50); 1.14 (1.06, 1.22) for sulfur dioxide (IQR=5.88); 1.12(1.05, 1.20) for nitrogen dioxide (IQR=27.94); 1.11 (1.07, 1.15) for particulate matter≤10 µm diameter(IQR=34.00); and 1.11 (1.06, 1.16) for fine particulate matter ≤2.5 µm diameter (IQR=18.50). Results were similar when stratified by age, sex and season. Air pollution appears to increase the risk of acute complications of diabetes requiring hospitalization, suggesting that improvements in air quality may reduce morbidity from diabetes.

The risk of dying on days of higher air pollution among the socially disadvantaged elderly.

RATIONALE: The estimated mortality rate associated with ambient air pollution based on general population studies may not be applicable to certain subgroups. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of age, education, employment status and income on the risk of mortality associated with ambient air pollution. METHODS: Daily time-series analyses tested the association between daily air pollution and daily mortality in seven Chilean urban centers during the period January 1997-December 2007. Results were adjusted for long-term trends, day-of-the week and humidex. RESULTS: Interquartile increases in particulate matter (PM(10) and PM(2.5)), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and elemental and organic carbon were associated with a 4-7% increase in mortality among those who did not complete primary school (p<0.05) vs. 0.5-1.5% among university graduates (p>0.05). Among those at least 85 years of age respective estimates were 2-7%. However, among the elderly who did not complete primary school, respective estimates were 11-19% (p<0.05). The degree of effect modification was less for income and employment status than education, and sex did not modify the results. CONCLUSION: The socially disadvantaged, especially if elderly appear to be especially susceptible to dying on days of higher air pollution. Concentrations deemed acceptable for the general population would not appear to protect this susceptible subgroup.

Modification in the soil and traffic-related sources of particle matter between 1998 and 2007 in Santiago de Chile.

Santiago de Chile is one of the most polluted South American cities, concentrating its pollution episodes during winter. Daily PM2.5 (particulate matter [PM] < or = 2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter) concentrations over 80 microg/m3 have been reached frequently since 1998. Despite several regulations introduced over the past 20 yr to improve the air quality, PM concentration levels remain high. In this work, sampling in downtown Santiago was conducted from April 1998 to August 2007 for PM2.5 and from October 2003 to March 2006 for PM10-2.5 (PM between 2.5 and 10 microm in aerodynamic diameter) with dichotomous samplers. Elemental analysis was performed on the samples with X-ray fluorescence. The resuming series of 859 samples and 216 elements identified were divided into semiannual periods and analyzed with factor analysis. Five factors are clearly discerned: soil, motor vehicles, residual oil, marine aerosols, and secondary sulfates. The soil factor in the fine fraction shows a clear increase from 2002 to 2006, whereas the coarse fraction of this factor shows a stable trend. The most probable cause for this trend is the growth in the number of vehicles in Santiago (6.5%/yr), which increases the resuspension of particles from the ground. Another cause for the increase is the growth in the construction activity (4.2%/yr). The motor vehicle factor in the fine fraction shows a decrease between 1998 and 2006. The decrease in the apportionment of this factor can be explained by the improvement in the vehicle fleet. In Santiago, the number of noncatalytic vehicles has been reduced from 389,000 in 2001 to 275,000 in 2006. The residual oil factor also shows a decrease between 1998 and 2006. The decrease could be attributed to the adoption of cleaner technologies and norms regarding gasoline and diesels.

Components of particulate air pollution and emergency department visits in Chile.

The objective of the present study was to determine the association between several elements of particulates and Emergency Department (ED) visits in a general population sample. Daily time-series analyses tested the association between daily ED visit and air pollutants and components of particulates measured in Santiago Centro, a municipality, which includes downtown Santiago during the period from 2001 to 2006. The strongest individual effect was seen for elemental carbon. A 4.76 microg/m3 increase was associated with a relative risk (RR) of 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-1.14) increase in total ED visits, and a RR of 1.18 (95% CI = 1.16-1.21) for respiratory ED visit. Using factor analysis, the authors determined that traffic combustion-related particulates were significantly associated with ED visits. Among all the sources identified, traffic combustion-related particulates had the strongest association with ED visits. A factor indicating soil-sourced particles had a weaker but statistically significant observed morbidity effect. Of the many components of particulate air pollution, those from motor vehicle exhaust had the greatest observed effect on morbidity.

Spectroscopic probing of the effect of alkanols on the properties of the head group region in reverse micelles of AOT-heptane-water.

The effects of addition of alkanols (ethanol, n-hexanol, and 3-ethyl-3-pentanol) on the micropolarity and microviscosity of the head group region in reverse micelles of AOT-heptane-water have been investigated by fluorescence probing methods (ANS fluorescence yield and TMADPH fluorescence anisotropy), complemented by the use of the solvatochromic probe E(T)(30) in absorption spectroscopy. For all the alkanols considered, ANS fluorescence in AOT reverse micelles (at W=3) is quenched by additive incorporation, being the effect elicited almost independent of the alkanol chain length and topology. As sensed by the E(T)(30) parameter, the micropolarity of the micelle surface increases, remains unmodified, and decreases upon addition of ethanol, 3-ethyl-3-pentanol, and hexanol, respectively. While ethanol barely modifies the fluorescence anisotropy of TMADPH, 3-ethyl-3-pentanol and n-hexanol addition strongly decrease it. The similarity of the tendencies of ANS data to TMADPH anisotropies and the differences between ANS data and E(T)(30) values would indicate that, at least for 3-ethyl-3-pentanol and n-hexanol, microviscosity, rather than micropolarity, must be considered to interpret the effect of the alkanols upon the fluorescent behavior of ANS.