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Ephedra is one of the largest genera of the Ephedraceae family, which is distributed in arid and semiarid regions of the world. In the traditional medicine from several countries some species from the genus are commonly used to treat asthma, cold, flu, chills, fever, headache, nasal congestion, and cough. The chemical constituents of Ephedra species have been of research interest for decades due to their contents of ephedrine-type alkaloids and its pharmacological properties. Other chemical constituents such as phenolic and amino acid derivatives also have resulted attractive and have provided evidence-based supporting of the ethnomedical uses of the Ephedra species. In recent years, research has been expanded to explore the endophytic fungal diversity associated to Ephedra species, as well as, the chemical constituents derived from these fungi and their pharmacological bioprospecting. Two additional aspects that illustrate the chemical diversity of Ephedra genus are the chemotaxonomy approaches and the use of ephedrine-type alkaloids as building blocks in organic synthesis. American Ephedra species, especially those that exist in Mexico, are considered to lack ephedrine type alkaloids. In this sense, the phytochemical study of Mexican Ephedra species is a promising area of research to corroborate their ephedrine-type alkaloids content and, in turn, discover new chemical compounds with potential biological activity. Therefore, the present review represents a key compilation of all the relevant information for the Ephedra genus, in particular the American species, the species distribution, their ecological interactions, its ethnobotany, its phytochemistry and their pharmacological activities and toxicities, in order to promote clear directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers from five municipalities of Chiapas attended a diversity fair celebrated on December 6, 2003; two groups of them from "El Pozo" and "Nichteel" localities decided to reply this event under their conditions. Thus, they made a collection in different towns pertaining to their municipalities y others, with the objective of improving farm diversity besides looking for better-adapted accessions to their specific conditions. The group from "El Pozo" managed to collect 14 accessions of different grain color whereas the group from "Nichteel" managed to collect 16 accessions. Along with researchers and technicians from SDR in Chiapas, México, and INCA, Cuba, they evaluated six characters. Such evaluation enabled to determine that there were significant differences among the accessions collected by "El Pozo" and "Nichteel". Moreover, it was statistically proved that, in many cases, accessions collected in others localities and municipalities showed a better behavior or similar to the local one. Likewise, farmers from both sites of Los Altos de Chiapas could improve maize diversity in their farms and collect better varieties than those they have traditionally seeded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March and April, 2003, a maize prospection was carried out in 20 municipalities belonging to five regions of Chiapas, Mexico. 331 accessions of maize were collected, two donated by INIFAP and the rest collected in the farmer's farms. Prospections are integrated by accessions with different grain colors. On May 30, 2003, 85 maize accessions were sowed in "La Albarrada" Center of Community Development, located in the municipality of San Cristóbal de Las Casas. Different evaluations were carried out showing a wide maize variability; this variability was found within accessions of different color as well as among accessions of different color. This variability was also proved among different farms where they were collected. On December 6, 2003, a biodiversity fair was carried out. During the fair 51 accessions were selected at least once by farmers (60 % of all the exposed diversity). Farmers showed a bigger interest for accessions with black and yellow grain color, constituting 66.6 % of the collected diversity. During the selection, men and women had different approaches when selecting the accessions and they also differed in the number of selected accessions. In general, farmers showed a great interest on creole accessions that showed some tolerance to their specific conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding that is related with older patients and NSAIDs use. The frequency of peptic ulcer bleeding varies of 15% to 30% of cases., Objective: To determine the gastropathy features of patients who receive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and its relation with Helicobacter pylori (Hp)., Methods: Men and women with GU or DU with or without haemorrhage, were included into two groups, NSAIDs users and non users. We determined the incidence rate of peptic ulcer and the frequencies of risk factors as tobacco use, previous peptic ulcer or haemorrhage, concomitant disease presence and its association with Hp infection., Results: We included 434 (67.5%) patients that used NSAIDs and 209 (32.5%) non NSAIDs users control subjects. The average was 62.5 +/- 17.2 years and 49.5 +/- 19.4 years respectively. The annual incidence rate of peptic ulcer in NSAIDs users was 17.5%. Gastrointestinal bleeding was more frequent in NSAIDs users and its relations with Hp infection (23.5%) was smaller than patients without NSAIDs user (47.7%) (OR 0.39 p = 0.0000)., Conclusions: The GU was highly frequent in the older people who using NSAIDs. The Hp infection shows lower incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding NSAIDs users.