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In the scientific community, there is a growing interest inTamarindus indicaL. leaves, both as a valuable nutrient and as a functional food. This paper focuses on exploring its safety and antioxidant properties. A tamarind leaf fluid extract (TFE) wholly characterised was evaluated for its anti-DPPH activity (IC50 = 44.36 μg/mL) and its reducing power activity (IC50 = 60.87 μg/mL). TFE also exhibited a high ferrous ion-chelating capacity, with an estimated binding constant of 1.085 mol L− 1while its influence over nitric oxide production in human leucocytes was irregular. At low concentrations, TFE stimulated NO output, but it significantly inhibited it when there was an increase in concentration. TFE was also classified as a non-toxic substance in two toxicity tests: the acute oral toxicity test and the oral mucous irritability test. Further toxicological assays are needed, although results so far suggest that TFE might become a functional dietary supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Tamarind leaves are edible; however, their saponin content could be toxic to human blood cells. In this article, the effect of tamarind leaf fluid extract (TFE) on human blood cells was evaluated by using several tests. Results revealed that TFE did not cause significant haemolysis on human red blood cells even at the lowest evaluated concentration (20 mg/mL). Blood protein denaturalisation ratio was consistently lower than in control at TFE concentrations greater than 40 mg/mL. Erythrocyte membrane damage caused by the action of oxidative H2O2 displayed a steady reduction with increasing TFE concentrations. In the reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurement by using flow cytometry assay, leucocyte viability was over 95% at tested concentrations, and a high ROS inhibition was also recorded. Protective behaviour found in TFE should be attributed to its polyphenol content. Thus, tamarind leaves can be regarded as a potential source of interesting phytochemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work a virtual Laboratory is designed as tool for the teaching of the Pharmaceutical Technology discipline. Aided by the computer science's new technologies and the telecommunications, in the several videos and animations of pharmaceutical processes are presented that allow the student to build senses and meanings on the topic of the pharmaceutical Technology. This virtual laboratory is a didactic instrument of enormous utility and importance whereas constitutes a didactic and methodological contribution in the teaching of the Pharmaceutical Sciences in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En el presente trabajo se diseña una plataforma virtual para la enseñanza de la asignatura Tecnología Farmacéutica I. Desde una perspectiva didáctica, enmarcada en tres dimensiones bien definidas: metodológica, teórica y tecnológica, se desarrolla una aplicación que responde a las regularidades asignatura Tecnología Farmacéutica I, a sus necesidad la es y objetivos y desde este punto de vista erramienta de trabajo para el profesorado de la disciplina. En la misma se plantea de una manera amigable y sencilla, libros de texto, artículos, páginas Web y otros materiales bibliográficos, se orienta al estudiante en la realización de las clases prácticas, seminaries y conferencias y tiene un sistema de evaluación personalizado que permite caracterizar cada estudiante, con lo que se logra realizar una atención personalizada, garantizando un mejor aprovechamiento en el proceso de enseñanza aprendizaje. Esta plataforma constituye un instrumento didáctico único en el país, y un aporte metodológico en la enseñanza de las Ciencias Farmacéuticas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation an interactive platform was designed for the teaching of the chemistry of natural drugs. Aided in the New Technologies of the Information and the Communications (NTIC) as a work tool, is presented information with respect to medicinal and toxic plants and images of the same ones, technical of qualitative and quantitative analysis, methodologies for the preparation of solutions as well as work methods as the extraction methods for example. This application is designed in such way that contributes the apprentices take the essential aspects of Farmacognosia that they should know and to practice for the good acting as pharmaceutical professionals. In a friendly atmosphere, of easy handling and with a very human character, this application contributes to the students build and consolidate the knowledge of this subject and find here, a sure way to consult information that, in the present time, is dispersed in many bibliographical sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure the impact of osteoarthritis on the functioning and health status of individuals living in a low-income urban community in Mexico., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, community-based study from December 2014 to November 2015, using the Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases methodology to identify cases of musculoskeletal disease in a sample of adults older than 18 years in Pueblo Nuevo, Apodaca, Mexico. Two rheumatologists confirmed all cases of osteoarthritis (OA) using predefined criteria. Functioning was evaluated through (a) self-report of difficulty doing personal care, work, and leisure activities; (b) the modified Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index; and (c) the Timed Up and Go test. Health status was evaluated using the EuroQoL 5 Dimensions. Statistical analyses were performed using χ tests and logistic regression models., Results: Four hundred thirty-nine individuals with a mean age of 45.2 years were included, and 83 cases of OA were confirmed. The presence of OA was not significantly associated with having difficulties to do personal care, work, or leisure activities, but it was significantly associated with a higher Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index score, longer time to complete the Timed Up and Go, and lower health status., Conclusions: Osteoarthritis is associated with having higher disability and worse health status in the community studied. A disability paradox was detected as some individuals perceived disability for doing standard activities but did not present disability performing their real-life activities. This underlies the importance of addressing the mental dimension during the management of this population.

Background: The negative impact of musculoskeletal diseases on the physical function and quality of life of people living in developing countries is considerable. This disabling effect is even more marked in low-socioeconomic communities within developing countries. In Mexico, there is a need to create community-based rehabilitation programs for people living with musculoskeletal diseases in low-socioeconomic areas. These programs should be directed to prevent and decrease disability, accommodating the specific local culture of communities., Objective: The objective of this paper is to describe a research protocol designed to develop, implement, and evaluate culturally sensitive community-based rehabilitation programs aiming to decrease disability of people living with musculoskeletal diseases in two low-income Mexican communities., Methods: A community-based participatory research approach is proposed, including multi and transdisciplinary efforts among the community, medical anthropology, and the health sciences. The project is structured in 4 main stages: (1) situation analysis, (2) program development, (3) program implementation, and (4) program evaluation. Each stage includes the use of quantitative and qualitative methods (mixed method program)., Results: So far, we obtained resources from a Mexican federal agency and completed stage one of the project at Chankom, Yucatán. We are currently receiving funding from an international agency to complete stage two at this same location. We expect that the project at Chankom will be concluded by December of 2017. On the other hand, we just started the execution of stage one at Nuevo León with funding from a Mexican federal agency. We expect to conclude the project at this site by September of 2018., Conclusions: Using a community-based participatory research approach and a mixed method program could result in the creation of culturally sensitive community-based rehabilitation programs that promote community development and decrease the disabling effects of musculoskeletal diseases within two low-income Mexican communities.

Objective: To evaluate the implementability of the "2008 Mexican Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis at the primary level of care" within primary healthcare of three Mexican regions using the Guideline Implementability Appraisal methodology version 2 (GLIA.v2)., Methods: Six family physicians, representing the South, North, and Central Mexico, and one Mexican physiatrist evaluated the 45 recommendations stated by the Mexican guideline. The GLIA.v2 methodology includes the execution of qualitative and semi-quantitative techniques., Results: Reviewers' agreement was between moderate to near complete in most cases. Sixty-nine percent of the recommendations were considered difficult to implement within clinical practice. Eight recommendations did not have an appropriate format. Only 6 recommendations were judged as able to be consistently applied to clinical practice. Barriers related to the context of one or more institutions/regions were identified in 25 recommendations. These barriers are related to health providers/patients' beliefs, processes of care within each institution, and availability of some treatments recommended by the guideline., Conclusions: The guideline presented problems of conciseness and clarity that negatively affect its application within the Mexican primary healthcare context. We identified individual, organizational and system characteristics, which are common to the 3 institutions/regions studied and constitute barriers for implementing the guideline to clinical practice. It is recommended that the 2008-Mexican-CPG-OA be thoroughly revised and restructured to improve the clarity of the actions implied by each recommendation. We propose some strategies to accomplish this and to overcome some of the identified regional/institutional barriers., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Rheumatic diseases are vastly underdiagnosed and undertreated, particularly among minorities and those of low socioeconomic status. The WHO-ILAR Community Oriented Program in the Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) advocates screening of musculoskeletal complaints in the community. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of the COPCORD Core Questionnaire (CCQ) as a diagnostic tool for rheumatic diseases., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study designed in parallel with a large COPCORD survey in Mexico. A subsample of 17,566 questionnaires, selected from 4 of the 5 states included in a national COPCORD survey were included in the analysis as a diagnostic test to evaluate sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC), and positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of the CCQ as a case-detection tool for rheumatic diagnosis and for the most frequent diagnoses identified in the survey, osteoarthritis, regional rheumatic pain syndromes, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Logistic regression with the questions with LR+ ≥ 1 was performed to identify the strength of association (OR) for each question., Results: Pain in the last 7 days, high pain score (> 4), and previous diagnosis were the questions with highest LR+ for diagnosis, and for diagnosis of RA treatment with NSAID. The variables that contributed most to the model were pain in the last 7 days (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.8-2.3), NSAID treatment (OR 3.3, 95% CI 3.0-3.7), a high pain score (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.13-1.17), and having a previous diagnosis (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3-1.6). These 4 questions had R(2) = 0.24, p < 0.01, for detection of any rheumatic diagnosis. The single variable that explains 16% (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.31-134) of variance was a high pain score in the last 7 days., Conclusion: Some variables were identified in the CCQ that could be combined in a brief version for case detection of rheumatic diseases in community surveys. The validity of this proposal has to be tested against the original version.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of rheumatic regional pain syndromes (RRPS) in 3 geographical areas of México using the Community Oriented Program in the Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) screening methodology and validate by expert consensus on case-based definitions., Methods: By means of an address-based sample generated through a multistage, stratified, randomized method, a cross-sectional survey was performed on adult residents (n = 12,686; age 43.6 ± 17.3 yrs; women 61.9%) of the states of Nuevo León, Yucatán, and México City. Diagnostic criteria for specific upper (Southampton group criteria) and lower limb (ad hoc expert consensus) RRPS were applied to all subjects with limb pain as detected by COPCORD questionnaire., Results: The overall prevalence of RRPS was 5.0% (95% CI 4.7-5.4). The most frequent syndrome was rotator cuff tendinopathy (2.36%); followed by inferior heel pain (0.64%); lateral epicondylalgia (0.63%); medial epicondylalgia (0.52%); trigger finger (0.42%); carpal tunnel syndrome (0.36%); anserine bursitis (0.34%); de Quervain's tendinopathy (0.30%); shoulder bicipital tendinopathy (0.27%); trochanteric syndrome (0.11%); and Achilles tendinopathy (0.10%). There were anatomic regional variations in the prevalence of limb pain: Yucatán 3.1% (95% CI 2.5-3.6); Nuevo León 7.0% (95% CI 6.3-7.7); and México City 10.8% (95% CI 9.8-11.8). Similarly, the prevalence of RRPS showed marked geographical variation: Yucatán 2.3% (95% CI 1.8-2.8); Nuevo León 5.6% (95% CI 5.0-6.3); and México City 6.9% (95% CI 6.2-7.7)., Conclusion: The overall prevalence of RRPS in México was 5.0%. Geographical variations raise the possibility that the prevalence of RRPS is influenced by socioeconomic, ethnic, or demographic factors.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders and to describe predicting variables associated with rheumatic diseases in 5 regions of México., Methods: This was a cross-sectional, community-based study performed in 5 regions in México. The methodology followed the guidelines proposed by the Community Oriented Program for the Control of the Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD). A standardized methodology was used at all sites, with trained personnel following a common protocol of interviewing adult subjects in their household. A "positive case" was defined as an individual with nontraumatic MSK pain of > 1 on a visual analog pain scale (0 to 10) during the last 7 days. All positive cases were referred to internists or rheumatologists for further clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and proper treatment., Results: The study included 19,213 individuals; 11,602 (68.8%) were female, and their mean age was 42.8 (SD 17.9) years. The prevalence of MSK pain was 25.5%, but significant variations (7.1% to 43.5%) across geographical regions occurred. The prevalence of osteoarthritis was 10.5%, back pain 5.8%, rheumatic regional pain syndromes 3.8%, rheumatoid arthritis 1.6%, fibromyalgia 0.7%, and gout 0.3%. The prevalence of MSK manifestations was associated with older age and female gender., Conclusion: The prevalence of MSK pain in our study was 25.5%. Geographic variations in the prevalence of MSK pain and specific diagnoses suggested a role for geographic factors in the prevalence of rheumatic diseases.

Tamarindus indica L. leaves are reported worldwide as antibacterial and antifungal agents; however, this observation is not completely accurate in the case of Cuba. In this article, decoctions from fresh and sun dried leaves, as well as fluid extracts prepared with 30 and 70% ethanol-water and the pure essential oil from tamarind leaves were microbiologically tested against Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomona aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Aqueous and fluid extracts were previously characterized by spectrophotometric determination of their total phenols and flavonoids, while the essential oil was chemically evaluated by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Experimental data suggest phenols as active compounds against B. subtilis cultures, but not against other microorganisms. On the other hand, the essential oil exhibited a good antimicrobial spectrum when pure, but its relative low concentrations in common folk preparations do not allow for any good activity in these extracts.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of antineutrophil cytoplasm autoantibodies (ANCA) and its antigenic specificities in sera of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (Tb) before and after treatment., Patients and Methods: Sixty-eight patients with culture-proven Tb were studied for the presence of ANCA, both by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and ELISA against proteinase-3 (PR3), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (BPI). They were sought before treatment and in 52 of them also after therapy for the infection. High sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) was also measured at both times., Results: ANCA by IIF were found in 3/68 (4.4%) sera prior to treatment, one C-ANCA and two P-ANCA, all recognizing BPI. After treatment, this increased to 15/52 (28.8%), 3 C-ANCA and 12 P-ANCA, the majority directed against BPI (11/15, 73%). BPI-ANCA were positive in 6/68 (8.8%) and 15/52 (28.8%) before and after Tb after treatment initiation (p=0.003). PR3-ANCA and MPO-ANCA were negative in all Tb sera. A positive ANCA test correlated with CRP as inflammatory marker (p=0.001)., Conclusions: The prevalence of ANCA in culture positive Tb patients is modified by Tb chemotherapy. BPI is the main target antigen for ANCA in tuberculosis and BPI-ANCA increase after treatment.

Objective: To estimate the social costs of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and gout from the patient's perspective., Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional analysis of the cost and resource utilization of 690 RA, AS, and gout patients from 10 medical centers and private facilities in five cities of Mexico. The information was obtained from the baseline of a dynamic cohort. We estimated out-of-pocket expenses, institutional direct costs, and direct medical costs., Results: The mean (SD) annual out-of-pocket expense (USD) was $610.0 ($302.2) for RA, $578.6 ($220.5) for AS, and $245.3 ($124.0) for gout. Figures correspond to 15%, 9.6%, and 2.5% of the family income. They also represented 26.1%, 25.3%, and 24.4% of the total annual cost per RA, AS, and gout patients, respectively. The expected direct institutional patient/year costs were 1,724.2 for RA, $1,710.8 for AS, and $760.7 for gout. The total patient annual costs were $2,334.3 for RA, $2,289.4 for AS, and $1,006.1 for gout. Most out-of-pocket expenses were used to purchase drugs, pay for laboratory tests, imaging studies, and alternative therapies., Conclusions: From the patient's perspective, the cost of RA, AS, and gout represents 25% of direct medical costs. The cost of RA is higher than that for AS and gout.