Chlamydomonas agloeformis from the Ecuadorian Highlands: Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds Profiling and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity.

Green microalgae are single-celled eukaryotic organisms that, in recent years, are becoming increasingly important in the nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields because of their high content of bioactive compounds. In this study, a particular green microalga was isolated from freshwater highland lakes of Ecuador and morphologically and molecularly identified as Chlamydomonas agloeformis (ChA), and it was studied for nutritional and nutraceutical properties. The phenolic composition and the fatty acids profile of lyophilized cells were determined. The methanolic extract was analyzed for the phenolic compounds profile and the antioxidant capacity by means of in vitro tests. Finally, Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC-1) were exploited to explore the capacity of ChA to reduce the endothelial damage induced by oxidized LDL-mediated oxidative stress. The extract showed a good antioxidant ability thanks to the high content in polyphenolic compounds. The observed decrease in HMEC-1 cells endothelial damage also was probably due to the antioxidant compounds present in the extract. Based on the outcomes of our in vitro assays, ChA demonstrated to be a promising source of bioactive compounds possessing exceptional antioxidant capacities which make it a prospective functional food.

In Vitro Characterization of Antioxidant, Antibacterial and Antimutagenic Activities of the Green Microalga Ettlia pseudoalveolaris.

Recently, green microalgae have gained importance due to their nutritional and bioactive compounds, which makes them some of the most promising and innovative functional foods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical profile and the in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and antimutagenic activity of an aqueous extract of the green microalga Ettlia pseudoalveolaris, obtained from the freshwater lakes of the Ecuadorian Highlands. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were used to determine the ability of the microalga to reduce the endothelial damage caused by hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, the eukaryotic system Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to evaluate the possible cytotoxic, mutagenic and antimutagenic effect of E. pseudoalveolaris. The extract showed a notable antioxidant capacity and a moderate antibacterial activity mostly due to the high content in polyphenolic compounds. It is likely that the antioxidant compounds present in the extract were also responsible for the observed reduction in endothelial damage of HMEC-1 cells. An antimutagenic effect through a direct antioxidant mechanism was also found. Based on the results of in vitro assays, E. pseudoalveolaris proved to be a good source of bioactive compounds and antioxidant, antibacterial and antimutagenic capacities making it a potential functional food.

Exploring the Physiological Multiplicity of Native Microalgae from the Ecuadorian Highland, Italian Lowland and Indoor Locations in Response to UV-B.

The differential effects of UV-B on the inhibition or activation of protective mechanisms to maintain cells photosynthetically active were investigated in native microalgae. Four strains were used, including two Chlorella sorokiniana strains, F4 and LG1, isolated from a Mediterranean inland swamp and a recycled cigarette butt's substrate, respectively, and two isolates from an Ecuadorian highland lake related to Pectinodesmus pectinatus (PEC) and Ettlia pseudoalveolaris (ETI). Monocultures were exposed to acute UV-B (1.7 W m-2) over 18 h under controlled conditions. UV-B-untreated microalgae were used as the control. Comparative physiological responses, including photosynthetic pigments, non-enzymatic antioxidants, and chlorophyll a fluorescence, were evaluated at specific time points. Results showed that UV-B significantly compromised all the physiological parameters in F4, thereby resulting in the most UV-B-sensitive strain. Contrarily, UV-B exposure did not lead to changes in the PEC physiological traits, resulting in the best UV-B-resistant strain. This could be attributed to the acclimation to high light habitat, where maintaining a constitutive phenotype (at the photosynthetic level) is strategically advantageous. Differently, LG1 and ETI at 12 h of UV-B exposure showed different UV-B responses, which is probably related to acclimation, where in LG1, the pigments were recovered, and the antioxidants were still functioning, while in ETI, the accumulation of pigments and antioxidants was increased to avoid further photodamage. Consequently, the prolonged exposure in LG1 and ETI resulted in species-specific metabolic regulation (e.g., non-enzymatic antioxidants) in order to constrain full photoinhibition under acute UV-B.

Impacto psicosocial de la pandemia por COVID-19 en adultos de Buenos Aires / Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Adult Population of Buenos Aires

RESUMEN Introducción: En marzo de 2020, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró a la enfermedad SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, una pandemia. Desde ese momento, se lleva a cabo un experimento psicológico notablemente grande en el mundo: el aislamiento social. Objetivos: Analizar la repercusión del aislamiento social sobre los hábitos saludables y algunos aspectos psicosociales y conductuales durante el confinamiento y las restricciones impuestas por la pandemia en el área metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA). Material y métodos: Se confeccionó una encuesta y se convocó por redes sociales (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, e-mail) a que la respondieran en forma anónima todos excepto el personal médico. Resultados: Tras 7 días de enviado el correspondiente enlace, habían contestado la encuesta 2912 personas; el 48,2% de ellas tenía entre 40 y 60 años y en su mayoría eran mujeres. El 43,53% percibieron modificaciones en sus hábitos de vida, como el aumento en las horas frente a dispositivos electrónicos, que se duplicó en la cuarentena. Esto se acompañó de mayor sedentarismo: el 83,5% hacía ejercicio antes de la pandemia, pero solo el 6,4% mantuvo la cantidad de horas semanales de ejercicio que hacía antes del aislamiento. El 43,52% presentó alteración en sus hábitos alimenticios y el 41% refirió síntomas compatibles con depresión, ansiedad, tristeza, falta de voluntad o desesperanza. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio sugiere que el bienestar psicológico y los hábitos saludables son amenazados por el confinamiento establecido para contener la transmisión de COVID-19, por lo que es preciso implementar medidas para prevenir consecuencias en nuestra población.

ABSTRACT Background: In March 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus a pandemic, and since then a remarkably large psychological experiment has been carried out in the world: social isolation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of social isolation on healthy habits and psychosocial and behavioral aspects during the confinement and restrictions imposed by the pandemic in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (AMBA). Methods: An anonymous survey, excluding medical personnel, was carried out through social networks (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and e-mail). Results: Within 7 days of sending the link 2,912 people answered the survey. Age was between 40 and 60 years in 48.2% of participants, with a predominance of women. In 43.53% of cases, respondents perceived changes in their lifestyle, such as a twofold increase of hours in front of electronic devices during quarantine. This was accompanied by a more sedentary lifestyle, since 83.5% exercised before the pandemic but only 6.4% maintained the prior hours of weekly physical activity. Altered eating habits was reported by 43.52% of participants and 41% referred symptoms compatible with depression, anxiety, sadness, unwillingness or hopelessness. Conclusions: Our study suggests that psychological wellbeing and healthy habits are threatened by confinement in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is necessary to implement measures to prevent consequences in our population.

Efectos del polimorfismo Val108/158Met del gen dopaminérgico Catecol-O-metiltransferasa COMT en las funciones ejecutivas de preescolares / Effects of dopamine gene polymorphism Val108/158Met Catechol-O-methyltransferase COMT in executive functions in preschool

El nivel de Dopamina en la Corteza Prefrontal se ha relacionado al desempeño de las Funciones Ejecutivas (FE). El objetivo de este estudio es explorar el efecto del polimorfismo funcional del gen COMT (Val/Val,Val/Met y Met/Met) en las FE de preescolares. Se utilizó la Batería Neuropsicológica de Funciones Ejecutivas para niños, y se extrajo el ADN genómico según metodología estándar (N=248) de 3 a 6 años de edad (M=4.6). Se estudiaron las frecuencias genotípicas del gen COMT y se realizó un análisis de varianza (ANOVA one-way) estableciendo diferencias significativas con una p<0.05. Los niños con el polimorfismo de baja actividad Met/Met puntúan significativamente mejor en relación a los niños con polimorfismo Val/Val en pruebas que requieren de Inhibición y los niños con el polimorfismo de alta actividad Val/Val resultan con un mejor rendimiento en pruebas relacionadas a MT, Planeación y Abstracción que los niños con polimorfismo Met/Met y Val/Met. Estos resultados parecen reflejar el papel de la enzima COMT como regulador de DA y que tanto el hipermetabolismo como el hipometabolismo tiene implicaciones importantes en las FE.

The level of DA in the prefrontal cortex has been related to the performance on executive functions (EF). The objective of this study was to explore the effect of the COMT polymorphism (Val/Val, Val/Met, Met/Met) in the performance of EF in a population of preschool children. All subjects were evaluated with a Neuropsychological Battery and genomic DNA was extracted according to standard methodology (N=248) from 3 to 6 years of age (M=4.6). We studied genotypic frequencies of the COMT gene and an analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) with post hoc analysis, establishing significant differences at p<0.05. In Children with a low activity polymorphism Met/Met scored significantly better in relation to the children with polymorphism Val/Val in tests requiring inhibition and children with high activity polymorphism Val/Val had better performance on tests related to working memory, planning and abstraction that children with polymorphism Met/Met and Val/Met. These results seem to reflect the role of COMT enzyme as a regulator of DA and that both hypermetabolism and hypometabolism has important implications for the EF.

Clínica y epidemiología de la dermatitis infectiva en el Servicio de Dermatología del Instituto de Salud del Niño, Lima, Perú: un análisis de los últimos 4 años / Clinic and epidemiológia of the dermatitis infectiva in the Service of Dermatology of the Institute of Health of the Child, Lima, Peru: an analysis of last 4 years

INTRODUCCIÓN: La Dermatitis infectiva es una dermatitis severa, crónica y recidivante con una patogenia aún desconocida asociada a infección por el Human T-lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1). El diagnóstico está basado en criterios clínicos definidos, complementados por la positividad serológica para el virus HTVL-1. OBJETIVO: Describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes pediátricos diagnosticados de Dermatitis Infectiva en el Servicio de Dermatología del Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño, en el periodo 2007 a 2010. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de revisión de Historias Clínicas de pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados y de atención de consulta externa diagnosticados con Dermatitis Infectiva entre enero del año 2007 y diciembre del 2010, la unidad de análisis fueron las historias clínicas de los pacientes. Los criterios de inclusión fueron edad menor de 18, serología positiva para HTLV-1, diagnóstico de Dermatitis Infectiva, dermatitis en cuero cabelludo recurrente. Los criterios de exclusión fueron historia de Dermatitis Seborreica del lactante y diagnóstico de Inmunodeficiencias primarias. Se utilizó el software SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) v.15 ® para el procesamiento de datos. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron 12 casos de pacientes pediátricos con diagnóstico de Dermatitis Infectiva, el 58 por ciento fueron varones y el 42 por ciento mujeres, con una edad promedio de 6 años y 11 meses al momento de la primera consulta en el servicio de dermatología. La mayoría de pacientes nacieron y provienen de lima, 50 por ciento y 75 por ciento respectivamente...