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This research study assesses the antiprotozoal and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts from Pilocarpus alvaradoi leaves and bark. Antioxidant activity is measured by using DPPH•, ABTS•+, and FRAP. Antiprotozoal activity in vitro is tested against Leishmania (V.) panamensis, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Cytotoxicity is examined against U937 cells. Compound identification is obtained by NMR spectroscopy. As a result three compounds are identified: sesamin, scopoletin, and bergapten. Bark ethanolic extracts and its subextract in ethyl acetate show antioxidant activity of 13.5 and 19.5 mg/L (ABTS•+), 17.4 and 21.1 mg/L (DPPH•), and 52.0 and 51.5 mg/L (FRAP) respectively. Bark ethanolic extracts also display moderate leishmanicidal, antiplasmodial, and trypanocidal activity with EC50 values of 47.90, 28.05, and 49.06 µg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, the compounds obtained from P. alvaradoi are reported for the first time for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sacha inchi is a plant native to the Peruvian Amazon. The oil obtained from its seeds contains high levels of alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, which may provide protective effects against inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In Cuba, the plant has been cultivated and the oil has been obtained, so it is important to carry out preclinical studies to evaluate its toxicity. The objective of this work was to determine the toxic effects of Sacha inchi oil, after a single oral administration to NMRI mice of both sexes. The dose administered to the animals was 2000 mg/kg of body weight, then they were observed at different intervals during the first 24 hours and daily for up to 14 days. Body weight was recorded at the beginning, after seven days and at the end of the experience, and food consumption was controlled throughout the experience. There were no deaths or signs indicative of toxicity in any animal. No macroscopic findings were observed during necropsy. In the analysis of body weight and food consumption there were no significant differences between the treated groups and the controls. The administration of single oral doses of Sacha inchi oil to NMRI mice did not show signs indicative of toxicity in either sex, showing an acute oral toxicity greater than 2000 mg/kg of body weight, so according to the method of the acute toxicity classes is not classifiable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term rhamnolipids represents a mixture of congeners of widely varying composition and ratio. The homologues contain one (mono-rhamnolipid) or two (di-rhamnolipid) rhamnose units covalently linked to one or two β-hydroxy acid chains. The structural diversity of these molecules determines that the analytical techniques used consider chemical reactions of homogeneous and heterogeneous equilibria. Within the homogeneous equilibrium, the formation of complexes stands out, while acid precipitation, solvent extraction and chromatography are methods based on the heterogeneous equilibrium. Likewise, the use of the instrumental methods molecular absorption spectrophotometry, infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance, and liquid or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry hybridization allow reaching a complete characterization of these glycolipids. In the present work, the different methods most commonly used in the analytical determination of rhamnolipids are reviewed and explained, specifying the analysis of rhamnolipids AT10, ORA9 and Y3B1A. The main physicochemical detection and characterization methods are also mentioned. Molecular absorption spectrophotometry and HPLC-mass hybridization are the most applied analytical methods of quantification and characterization; while acid precipitation is chosen as the separation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Acta Médica Peruana is the property of Colegio Medico del Peru and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: according to the literature there are discrepancies between the findings on ultrasound, nuclear magnetic resonance and arthroscopy, which is why the latter is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of lesions of internal structures of the knee. Objective: to evaluate the relationship between the echo, nuclear magnetic resonance and arthroscopy in meniscal lesions. Method: a descriptive and observational study was carried out at the "Arnaldo Milián Castro" Hospital in the Province of Villa Clara between January 2015 and March 2017. Results: 33.3% of the patients were between 40 and 49 years old and 77.7% were male. In 58.7% the affected knee was the right and in 86.1% the cause was nontraumatic. According to the location of the meniscal rupture, the greatest number of lesions of the medial meniscus was diagnosed by NMR (61%) and US (58%), those of the lateral meniscus were diagnosed by US (41%) and arthroscopy (39%). Ultrasound and resonance showed good agreement for the location and the exact point of the lesion. Conclusions: the correlation was very good for the variables analyzed between the three diagnostic methods, the largest being between magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopy due to the coincidence index detected between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work the encapsulation of a chalcone analogue (2-[(E)-4-(dimethylamine)benzylidene]indan-1-one) in micro-nanofibers of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is presented. The purpose is to investigate the development of potential biomaterials or scaffolds for tissue engineering. This chalcone analogue (CHAL) was synthesized by Claisen-Schmidt condensation in basic medium and was characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. The biocompatibility analysis of CHAL with human erythrocytes indicated that this compound can be considered non-hemolytic up to a concentration of 500 µM. The fabrication of PLA micro-nanofibers (loaded with CHAL) was carried out using the electrospinning technique. The optimal conditions of the electrospinning process were: voltage of 15 kV, tip-collector distance of 13 cm, concentration of polymer solutions of 12.5% w/V at 23 °C. The morphological characterization of the fibers was realized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fibers loaded with CHAL at concentrations of 10, 20 and 50 µg/mg presented a representative size distribution in the micrometric scale at 5-9 µm, while PLA microfibers were mostly in the 3-5 µm range. It was demonstrated that the encapsulation of CHAL induces a morphological modification on the PLA fibers; even, the formation of drops inside the scaffolds was observed. As well, we proved by SEM the formation of nanofibers with diameter sizes smaller than 200 nm and an appreciable surface roughness. These results are interesting to think about the biomimetization of extracellular matrix (EM) for tissue engineering. Finally, a high percentage of encapsulation yield of CHAL (>95%) was verified by visible UV spectrophotometry, and the fluorescent character of the structures loaded with this chalcone analogue was evidenced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), epilepsy is one of the world's most frequent neurological disorders. Epileptic seizures are considered to be a clinical manifestation caused by an excessive discharge of neurons in the brain. Its prevalence is higher in Latin America and the Caribbean than in developed countries. In most cases, seizures correspond to temporal lobe epilepsy, whose most common anatomic abnormality is hippocampal sclerosis. The objective is to present the basic epilepsy protocol in a standardized form and its usefulness in surgical planning, in order to perform a correct and timely diagnosis, knowing all of the tools that have been studied until now. Division of Covered Topics. A topic review of the existing literature in the Pubmed, Cochrane and Medline databases from 1980 to 2018 was performed on temporal lobe epilepsy. The anatomy, physiology, physiopathology, clinical presentation and imaging diagnosis of the pathology are concisely presented. Conclusions. This pathology is characterized by having an epileptogenic focus in the temporal lobes, with a high probability of control with surgical techniques that are becoming less aggressive. Diagnoses are made through clinics. However, new structural and functional imaging techniques are the diagnosis method of choice for patients suspected to have this pathology in order to make a more accurate and timely diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given the heterogeneous nature, the inherent complexity to the activity of expertise in legal medicine, the expert (a professional in medicine or related areas) should make the best use of the technical and technological tools available for this. The imaging, which refers to the set of techniques that allow getting images of the human body for clinical or scientific purposes in any of its techniques, has a powerful support tool to establish facts or technical evidence in the legal field. Objective: To analyze the use of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan in postmortem diagnosis. Methodology: The search for information was carried out in the PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Journal databases and the Google Scholar search engine, by using the terms "X-ray Computed Tomography", "Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy", "Autopsy", and "Legal Medicine" including articles published from 2008 to 2015. Results: A magnetic resonance imaging is useful for a detailed study of soft tissues and organs, while a computed tomography scan allows identifying fractures, calcifications, implants, and traumas. Conclusions: In the reports found in the literature search, regarding the use of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan in postmortem cases which were named after the genesis of the trauma, a correlation was found between the use of the image and the correct expert diagnosis at autopsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances en Ciencias e Ingeniería is the property of Avances en Ciencias e Ingenieria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Adicciones is the property of Sociedad Cientifica Espanola de Estudios sobre el Alcohol and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Universitas Médica is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Multivariate methods included in pattern recognition are useful tools in the study of complex chemical data as those provided by NMR spectroscopic methods. Its usefulness rests on the capability of pattern recognition to detect and classify pathological states. Instrumental and biological factors add complexity to the chemometric analysis of metabolic variables provided by NMR spectroscopy. Different factors like instrument-related differences, baseline correction, gender and temporal reproducibility of whole blood samples from control and sickle cell disease subjects were evaluated in this work. It can be concluded that chemometric analysis is affected by several instrumental and experimental factors. Gender and baseline correction do not seem to exert a determinant effect in further analysis using multivariate methods like principal component analysis; however, instrumental factors as shimming and other sources of temporal variations change spectra, thus modifying outcomes in chemometric analysis. As result, it is necessary to provide rigorously controlled experimental conditions in order to guarantee the reproducibility of multivariate analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies have proven that proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance technique can be used to follow up ozone reaction with unsaturated fatty acids. In this paper, ozonation of sunflower oil at a different applied ozone dosage was carried out and peroxide index and aldehydes contents were determined. The reaction products were identified using Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (¹H NMR). The principal signal intensities values were used for following the reaction course between ozone and sunflower oil. The reaction was following up to peroxide index values of 1 202 mmol-equiv/kg . The intensities of olefinic proton signals decreased with the gradual increase in ozone concentration but without disappearing completely. The Criegee ozonides obtained at 107.1 mg/g of ozone doses were approximately 7.4 folds higher than that at the beginning of reaction. The aldehyde protons were observed as a weak intensity signal in all the spectra. The signals belonging to olefinic protons from hydroperoxides appeared weak with the increase in ozone doses. Signals from other oxygenized groups were assigned. It was concluded that the higher applied ozone doses the higher the ozonation reaction advance corresponding with a higher oxygenized compounds formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]