UPLC-QTOF-MSE based metabolomics and chemometrics study of the pitaya processing.

The search for knowledge related to the Pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus [F.A.C. Weber] Britton & Rose, family Cactaceae) is commonly due to its beneficial health properties e aesthetic values. But process to obtain pitaya pulp is a first and important step in providing information for the subsequent use of this fruit as colorant, for example. Therefore, the effects of the pulping process on the metabolomic and chemometric profile of non-volatile compounds of pitaya were assessed for the first time. The differences in metabolic fingerprints using UPLC-QTOF-MSE and multivariate modeling (PCA and OPLS-DA) was performed in the following treatments: treatment A, which consists of pelled pitaya and no ascorbic acid addition during pulping; treatment B, use of unpelled pitaya added of ascorbic acid during pulping; and control, unpelled pitaya and no ascorbic acid addition during pulping. For the metabolomic analysis, UPLC-QTOF-MSE shows an efficient method for the simultaneous determination of 35 non-volatile pitaya metabolites, including isorhamnetin glucosyl rhamnosyl isomers, phyllocactin isomers, 2'-O-apiosyl-phylocactin and 4'-O-malonyl-betanin. In addition, the chemometric analysis efficiently distinguished the metabolic compounds of each treatment applied and shows that the use of unpelled pitaya added of ascorbic acid during pulping has an interesting chemical profile due to the preservation or formation of compounds, such as those derived from betalain, and higher yields, which is desirable for the food industry.

Clinical utility of ABCB1 and ABCG2 genotyping for assessing the clinical and pathological response to FAC therapy in Mexican breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) in some patients with locally advanced breast cancer remains one of the main obstacles to first-line treatment. We investigated clinical and pathological responses to FAC neoadjuvant chemotherapy in Mexican women with breast cancer and their possible association with SNPs present in ABC transporters as predictors of chemoresistance. MATERIALS: A total of 102 patients undergoing FAC neoadjuvant chemotherapy were included in the study. SNP analysis was performed by RT-PCR from genomic DNA. Two SNPs were analyzed: ABCB1 rs1045642 (3435 C > T) and ABCG2 rs2231142 (421 G > T). RESULTS: In clinical response evaluation, significant associations were found between the ABCB1 C3435T genotype and breast cancer chemoresistant and chemosensitive patients (p < 0.05). In the early clinical response, patients with genotype C/C or C/T were more likely to be chemosensitive to neoadjuvant therapy than patients with genotype T/T (OR = 4.055; p = 0.0064). Association analysis between the ABCB1 gene polymorphism and the pathologic response to FAC chemotherapy showed that the C/C + C/T genotype was a protective factor against chemoresistance (OR = 3.714; p = 0.0104). Polymorphisms in ABCG2 indicated a lack of association with resistance to chemotherapy (p = 0.2586) evaluating the clinical or pathological response rate to FAC neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The early clinical response and its association with SNPs in the ABCB1 transporter are preserved until the pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy; therefore, it could be used as a predictor of chemoresistance in locally advanced breast cancer patients of the Mexican population.

Conocimientos, Actitudes y prácticas de prevención de riesgo del cáncer bucal en población mayor de 15 años. Panamá. / [Knowledge, attitudes and practices of prevention of oral cancer risk in popul oral cancer risk in population over 15 years old. Panama.

Introducción: El Cáncer Bucal es una enfermedad de importancia en Salud Pública. En Panamá, se desconoce la incidencia y prevalencia de la enfermedad y no se dispone de información por tipo de patología, lesión, localización, ni estudios de conocimientos, ac­ titudes y prácticas, relacionados a los factores de riesgo. Objetivo General: analizar los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de prevención de Cáncer Bucal en la población mayor de 15 años. Materiales y Método: estudio descriptivo transversal, realizado en las Regiones Sanitarias de San Miguelito, Metropolitana y Panamá Oeste. Se realizó un muestreo por conveniencia en 42 instalaciones de salud del primer nivel de atención, a la población que acudió al servicio odontológico durante cuatro meses. Se aplicó una encuesta de Conocimiento, Actitudes y Prácticas de prevención de factores de riesgo al cáncer bucal, considerando variables de estilo de vida. Para el análisis estadístico, se utilizaron los programas Epi Info versión 7.2 y XLSTAT 2019 y presentados los datos en medidas paramétricas y no paramétricas. Resultados: se encuestó un total de 3,832 personas mayores de 15 años. La mayor proporción fueron mujeres en edades de 25 y 34 años. En relación al conocimiento, el 81% desconoce los factores de riesgo de cáncer bucal y según la actitud, el 63% no asiste al control odontológico periódicamente. Las prácticas reflejaron hábitos relaciona­ dos al consumo de tabaco y alcohol. Conclusión: La población mayor de 15 años del estudio, desconoce los factores de riesgo del cáncer bucal y manifiesta limitada actitud de práctica preventiva.

Introduction: Oral Cancer is an importance disease in Public Health. In Panama, the in­ cidence and prevalence of the disease is unknown and there is no information available by type of pathology, injury, location, or studies of knowledge, attitudes and practices re­ lated to risk factors. General Objective: to analyze the knowledge, attitudes and practi­ ces of prevention of Oral Cancer in the population over 15 years old. Materials and Methods: cross­sectional descriptive study, carried out in San Miguelito, Metropolitan and Panamá Oeste Health Regions. Sampling was carried out for convenience in 42 health facilities of the first level of health care, to the population that attended the dental service during four months. A survey of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of preven­ tion of risk factors to oral cancer was applied, considering Lifestyle variables. For the statistical analysis, the Epi Info version 7.2 and XLSTAT 2019 programs were used and the data presented in parametric and non­parametric measurements. Results: a total of 3,832 people over 15 years of age were surveyed. The highest propor­ tions were women between the ages of 25 and 34. In relation to knowledge, 81% do not know the risk factors for oral cancer and according to the attitude, 63%, do not attend pe­ riodically to a dental control. The practices reflected habits related to consumption of to­ bacco and alcohol. Conclusion: The population over 15 years old of the study ignores the risk factors of oral cancer and manifests a limited attitude of preventive practice.

Rhenium(I) tricarbonyl compounds of bioactive thiosemicarbazones: Synthesis, characterization and activity against Trypanosoma cruzi.

American Trypanosomiasis is a chronic infection discovered and described in 1909 by the Brazilian scientist Carlos Chagas. It is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Although it affects about 10million people in Latin America, the current chemotherapy is still inadequate. The discovery of new drugs is urgently needed. Our group is focused on the development of prospective metal-based drugs mainly based on bioactive ligands and pharmacologically interesting metal ions. In this work three new rhenium(I) tricarbonyl compounds fac-[ReI(CO)3Br(HL)] where HL=5-nitrofuryl containing thiosemicarbazones were synthesized and fully characterized in solution and in the solid state. The in vitro evaluation of the compounds on T. cruzi trypomastigotes (Dm28c strain) showed that the Re(I) compounds are 8 to 15 times more active than the reference drug Nifurtimox and show a 4 to 17 fold increase in activity in respect to the free (HL) ligands. Obtained compounds also show good selectivity indexes (IC50 endothelial cells Ea.hy926/IC50 T. cruzi (Dm28c tripomastigotes)). 1H NMR and MS studies, performed with time, showed that the fac-[Re(CO)3Br(HL)] species convert into the dimers [Re2(CO)6(L)2] in solution. Crystal structure of [ReI2(CO)6(L2)2], the product of complexes' dimerization, was solved. Related to the mechanism of action, the studied compounds do not generate radical oxygen species in the parasite (as 5-nitrofuryl derived thiosemicarbazones do) probably due to the unfavorable nitro reduction potential of the generated dimeric species. On the contrary, the compounds produce a decrease of the oxygen consumption rate of the parasites, maybe inhibiting their mitochondrial respiration.

The Role of Bile Acids in Glucose Metabolism and Their Relation with Diabetes.

Bile acids (BAs), the end products of cholesterol catabolism, are essential for the absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins; but they have also emerged as novel signaling molecules that act as metabolic regulators. It has been well described that the enterohe-patic circulation, a nuclear (FXR) and a cytoplasmic (TGR5/M-BAR) receptor aid in controlling hepatic bile acid synthesis. Modulating bile acid synthesis greatly impacts in metabolism, because these receptors also are implicated in glucose, lipid, and energy expenditure. Recent studies had revealed the way these receptors participate in regulating gluconeogenesis, peripheral insulin sensitivity, glycogen synthesis, glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and insulin secretion. Nowadays, it is demonstrated that enhancing bile acid signaling in the intestine contributes to the metabolic benefits of bile acid sequestrants and bariatric surgery on glucose homeos-tasis. This paper discusses the role of bile acid as regulators of glucose metabolism and their potential as therapeutic targets for diabetes.

Evaluation of capillary chromatographic supports for immobilized human purine nucleoside phosphorylase in frontal affinity chromatography studies.

The aim of this work was to optimize the preparation of a capillary human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (HsPNP) immobilized enzyme reactor (IMER) for characterization and affinity screening studies of new inhibitors by frontal affinity chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (FAC-MS). For this purpose two monolithic supports, a Chromolith Speed Rod (0.1mm I.D.×5cm) and a methacrylate-based monolithic epoxy polymeric capillary column (0.25mm I.D.×5cm) with epoxy reactive groups were considered and compared to an IMER previously developed using an open fused silica capillary. Each HsPNP-IMER was characterized in terms of catalytic activity using Inosine as standard substrate. Furthermore, they were also explored for affinity ranking experiments. Kd determination was carried out with the based fused silica HsPNP-IMER and the results are herein discussed.

Shrimp by-catch reduction using a short funnel net, in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, South Pacific, Mexico

Reduction of the by-catch in shrimp fishery is an important goal worldwide. In order to compare by-catch using the conventional trawling net and a newly designed short funnel net, nine cruises were carried out by the commercial fleet operating in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico. A total of 480 trawls were done (mean duration: 85 min). The experimental trawls using the modified net produced a 21.13-28.86 % by-catch reduction (confidence interval 95 %), a 3 % increase of shrimp catch, and a significant reduction on net recovery time. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (3-4): 889-897. Epub 2007 December, 28.

La reducción de la fauna de acompañamiento del camarón (FAC) es uno de los temas de discusión más importantes en la pesca mundial. Con la finalidad de contribuir en este tópico, se diseñó y utilizó una red de arrastre variando la longitud del túnel, y se comparó su efecto con el de una red tradicional; durante 9 cruceros de la flota comercial en el Golfo de Tehuantepec, México. Se realizó un total de 480 lances con promedio de 85 min cada uno. Los arrastres de la red modificada mostraron mejores resultados, con variación entre 21.13 a 28.86 %, con un 95 % de confianza de reducción de FAC, un incremento de 3 % en la captura de camarón, y una disminución del tiempo de recuperación, lo que sugiere un incremento en la eficiencia gracias al nuevo diseño.

Uso masivo de la coproparasitoscopía con FAF / Masive use of coproparasitoscopy with FAF

El uso de solución preservadora y fijadora (FAF) de formas parásitas en la coproparasitoscopía de rutina para el diagnóstico de parasitosis intestinales, es considerado en este trabajo como la parte escencial para la realización de encuestas y trabajos de campo, cuando se desea tener una mayor confiabilidad, así como cuando se tienen que transportar lals muestras a un laboratorio de concentración. Su uso continuo ahorra material y equipo, y es adecuado para el procesamiento de los exámenes que más comunmente solicita el cliente