Processing of Rosa rubiginosa: extraction of oil and antioxidant substances

In this work, a study about the effect of various operational conditions on the quantity of oil and soluble solids capable of being extracted from rosa mosqueta rosehip seeds is undertaken. Both the particle sizes assayed (0.6mm, 0.6-1mm, and 1-2mm) and the solvent-to-solid ratios (15:1, 25:1, and 50:1) showed a remarkable influence on the extraction efficiency. Extracted substances obtained by using the minor particle size or the maximum solvent-to-solid ratio doubled, at least, those attained by working under any other conditions. A major weight of kinetics upon equilibrium factors can be inferred from the short extraction times and high effective diffusivity values (being the lower one 1.97x10(-11)m(2)s(-1)) assessed for any condition. The antioxidant power of extracts was evaluated by ability to scavenge the DPPH radical. Results noteworthy depended on the solvent used to extract; whilst an approximately 80% DPPH inhibition percentage was reached in ethanol extracts, values of 52.2% or 41% were found in methanol and aqueous extracts, respectively. Even so, antioxidant capacity of Rosa rubiginosa extracts was much higher than that reported for other agricultural matrixes.     

Identification of protein and mannoprotein antigens of Candida albicans of relevance for the serodiagnosis of invasive candidiasis.

Antigens from Candida albicans blastoconidia and germ tubes were identified by two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blotting and characterized by microsequencing, reactivity with concanavalin A, and a panel of human sera. Antigens identified included a polydispersed area in the acidic high-molecular-mass regions of blastoconidium and germ-tube extracts, and 16 antigens varying in molecular masses and isoelectric points (pIs). The majority of the detected antigens, especially those in the polydispersed region, showed mannosyl groups, as determined by concanavalin A reactivity. Antibodies present in sera from patients with invasive candidiasis showed high reactivity with a number of antigens not detected with sera from blood donors. Eight of the 16 antigens could be identified by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies or by microsequencing. Five antigens showed homology with five enzymes previously described as antigens in C. albicans: enolase, phosphoglycerate kinase, malate dehydrogenase, and two isoforms of the fructose biphosphate aldolase. However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the immunogenic activity of a kexin precursor, a mitochondrial complex I chaperone, and a diacylglycerol kinase catalytic domain from C. albicans. Antigens described in this study may be of potential interest for the serodiagnosis of invasive candidiasis.     

Disseminated histoplasmosis with hemophagocytic syndrome in a patient with AIDS: description of one case and review of the Spanish literature

We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a 33-year old Ecuadorian patient with AIDS and a CD4 lymphocyte count of 39 cells/microl. He presented with prolonged fever and cough, was diagnosed with hemophagocytic syndrome and multiple organ failure and died 18 days after admission. Histoplasma capsulatum was isolated post-mortem from bone marrow biopsy and blood culture. In a literature review we found 22 published cases of disseminated histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS in Spain since 1988. All but two were men under 50 years old. Nineteen had been born or had lived in endemic areas. The diagnosis of histoplasmosis was established by culture of bone marrow biopsy in 10 cases. Itraconazole was introduced as a second drug after amphotericin B in ten of the thirteen patients who survived.     

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori for the prevention of peptic ulcer rebleeding

AIM: To evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on ulcer bleeding recurrence in a prospective, long-term study including more than 400 patients. METHODS: Patients with peptic ulcer bleeding were prospectively included. H. pylori infection was confirmed by rapid urease test, histology or (13)C-urea breath test. Several eradication regimens were used. Ranitidine 150 mg was administered daily until eradication was confirmed by breath test 8 weeks after completing eradication therapy. Patients with therapy failure received a second or third course of therapy. Patients with eradication success did not receive maintenance anti-ulcer therapy, and were controlled yearly with a repeated breath test. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-two patients were followed up for at least 12 months, with a total of 906 patient-years of follow up. Mean age was 59 years, and 35% were previous nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users. Sixty-nine percent had duodenal, 24% gastric, and 7% pyloric ulcer. Recurrence of bleeding was demonstrated in two patients at 1 year (incidence: 0.22% per patient-year of follow up), which occurred after NSAID use in both cases. CONCLUSION: Peptic ulcer rebleeding does not occur in patients with complicated ulcers after H. pylori eradication. Maintenance anti-ulcer (antisecretory) therapy is not necessary if eradication is achieved.     

False positive galactomannan results in adult hematological patients treated with piperacillin-tazobactam

In this prospective study including 78 adult patients with haematological malignancy (90 episodes) we performed galactomannan (GM) (Platelia Aspergillus) screening twice weekly for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. There were five proven and four probable invasive aspergillosis cases. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were 100, 88, 47 and 100%, respectively. There were eight patients with false positive GM (10.2%). In six patients the false GM reactivity was due to the administration of piperacillin-tazobactam (P-T). A significant association was found between false positive GM (= or > 0.5) and the administration of P-T (p < 0.01). Two other patients with no invasive aspergillosis (2.5%) and false GM reactivity had graft versus host disease (GVHD) and one of them had also mucositis grade IV. The kinetic patterns of false positive GM due to P-T is discussed.     

Occupational exposure to airborne fungi and bacteria in a household recycled container sorting plant

Several studies have showed an association between the work in waste treatment plants and occupational health problems such as irritation of skin, eyes and mucous membranes, pulmonary diseases, gastrointestinal problems and symptoms of organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS). These symptoms have been related to bioaerosol exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the occupational exposure to biological agents in a plant sorting source-separated packages (plastics materials, ferric and non-ferric metals) household waste. Airborne samples were collected with M Air T Millipore sampler. The concentration of total fungi and bacteria and gram-negative bacteria were determined and the most abundant genera were identified. The results shown that the predominant airborne microorganisms were fungi, with counts greater than 12,000 cfu/m(3) and gram-negative bacteria, with a environmental concentration between 1,395 and 5,280 cfu/m(3). In both cases, these concentrations were higher than levels obtained outside of the sorting plant. Among the fungi, the predominant genera were Penicillium and Cladosporium, whereas the predominant genera of gram-negative bacteria were Escherichia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Serratia. The present study shows that the workers at sorting source-separated packages (plastics materials, ferric and non-ferric metals) domestic waste plant may be exposed to airborne biological agents, especially fungi and gram-negative bacteria.     

Histological analyses of the fungal endophytes in Rosa hybrida

Endophytes are fungi that cause asymptomatic infections in leaves and stems of healthy plants. This study evaluated the presence of endophytic fungi on leaves of Rosa hybrida collected in Bogota, (Colombia) using histological techniques and light microscopy. Histological preparations showed fungal mycelium with few cells in the vascular tissue. Colonization of mesophyll cells was not observed. Visualization of fungal cells within plant tissues is a confirmatory test of the endophytic habitat of fungi isolated from leaves of Rosa hybrida.     

Protective<Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> effect of curcumin on copper genotoxicity evaluated by comet and micronucleus assays

Curcumin is a phytochemical with antiinflammatory, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic activities. Apparently, curcumin is not genotoxic in vivo, but in vitro copper and curcumin interactions induce genetic damage. The aim of this study was to test if in vivo copper excess induces DNA damage measured by comet and micronucleus assays in the presence of curcumin. We tested 0.2% curcumin in Balb-C mice at normal (13 ppm) and high (65, 130 and 390 ppm) copper ion concentrations. The comet and micronucleus assays were performed 48 hr after chemical application. Comet tail length in animals treated with 0.2% curcumin was not significantly different from the control. Animals exposed to copper cations (up to 390 ppm) exhibited higher oxidative DNA damage. Curcumin reduced the DNA damage induced by 390 ppm copper. We observed statistically significant increase in damage in individuals exposed to 390 ppm copper versus the control or curcumin groups, which was lowered by the presence of curcumin. Qualitative data on comets evidenced that cells from individuals exposed to 390 ppm copper had longer tails (categories 3 and 4) than in 390 ppm copper + curcumin. A statistically significant increase in frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE/10000TE) was observed only in 390 ppm copper versus the control and curcumin alone. Also cytotoxicity measured as the frequency of polychromatic erythrocytes (PE/1000TE) was attributable to 390 ppm copper. The lowest cytotoxic effect observed was attributed to curcumin. In vivo exposure to 0.2% curcumin for 48 hr did not cause genomic damage, while 390 ppm copper was genotoxic, but DNA damage induced by 390 ppm copper was diminished by curcumin. Curcumin seems to exert a genoprotective effect against DNA damage induced by high concentrations of copper cations. The comet and micronucleus assays prove to be suitable tools to detect DNA damage by copper in the presence of curcumin.     

Microtubule dynamics and Rac-1 signaling independently regulate barrier function in lung epithelial cells

Cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion controls the morphology and function of epithelial cells and is a critical component of the pathology of chronic inflammatory disorders. Dynamic interactions between cadherins and the actin cytoskeleton are required for stable cell-cell contact. Besides actin, microtubules also target intercellular, cadherin-based junctions and contribute to their formation and stability. Here, we studied the role of microtubules in conjunction with Rho-like GTPases in the regulation of lung epithelial barrier function using real-time monitoring of transepithelial electrical resistance. Unexpectedly, we found that disruption of microtubules promotes epithelial cell-cell adhesion. This increase in epithelial barrier function is accompanied by the accumulation of beta-catenin at cell-cell junctions, as detected by immunofluorescence. Moreover, we found that the increase in cell-cell contact, induced by microtubule depolymerization, requires signaling through a RhoA/Rho kinase pathway. The Rac-1 GTPase counteracts this pathway, because inhibition of Rac-1 signaling rapidly promotes epithelial barrier function, in a microtubule- and RhoA-independent fashion. Together, our data suggest that microtubule-RhoA-mediated signaling and Rac-1 control lung epithelial integrity through counteracting independent pathways.