► Glutathione S-transferase involved in pesticides detoxification. ► GSTA1 is the predominant isoform of GST expressed in the human liver. ► Methyl parathion and chlorpyrifos increases the level of ...GSTA1. ► HepG2 cell cultures could be a useful model for studying the function of GSTA1.
Chlorpyrifos and methyl parathion are among the most widely used insecticides in the world. Human populations are constantly exposed to low doses of both due to their extensive use and presence in food and drinking water. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) catalyzes the conjugation of glutathione on electrophilic substrates and is an important line of defense in the protection of cellular components from reactive species. GST alpha1 (GSTA1) is the predominant isoform of GST expressed in the human liver; thus, determining the effect of insecticides on GSTA1 transcription is very important. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of methyl parathion and chlorpyrifos on GSTA1 gene expression in HepG2 cells using real time PCR, and activity and immunoreactive protein assays. The results demonstrated that exposure to methyl parathion and chlorpyrifos increased the level of GSTA1 mRNA, GSTA1 immunoreactive protein and GST activity relative to a control. These results demonstrated that these insecticides can increase the expression of GSTA1. In conclusion, HepG2 cell cultures treated with methyl parathion and chlorpyrifos could be a useful model for studying the function of GSTA1 and its role in the metabolism of xenobiotics in the liver.
Lung cancer screening detects early-stage cancers, but also a large number of benign nodules. Molecular markers can help in the lung cancer screening process by refining inclusion criteria or guiding ...the management of indeterminate pulmonary nodules. In this study, we developed a diagnostic model based on the quantification in plasma of complement-derived fragment C4c, cytokeratin fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The model was first validated in two independent cohorts, and showed a good diagnostic performance across a range of lung tumor types, emphasizing its high specificity and positive predictive value. We next tested its utility in two clinically relevant contexts: assessment of lung cancer risk and nodule malignancy. The scores derived from the model were associated with a significantly higher risk of having lung cancer in asymptomatic individuals enrolled in a computed tomography (CT)-screening program (OR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.20–2.97). Our model also served to discriminate between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules (AUC: 0.86; 95% CI = 0.80–0.92) with very good specificity (92%). Moreover, the model performed better in combination with clinical factors, and may be used to reclassify patients with intermediate-risk indeterminate pulmonary nodules into patients who require a more aggressive work-up. In conclusion, we propose a new diagnostic biomarker panel that may dictate which incidental or screening-detected pulmonary nodules require a more active work-up.
•Pulque is a traditional Mexican fermented beverage with probiotic characteristics.•Aguamiel is the primary raw material for pulque production.•Aguamiel is related to a prebiotic food due to its ...significant content of fructans.•The revalorization of aguamiel allows producing other derived food like syrup.•Aguamiel syrup is considered a nutraceutical food.
Mexico has a rich history of using aguamiel extracted from Agave spp to make pulque, a fermented beverage popular in Mesoamerica. However, pulque has been overtaken by more commercially produced and distilled liquors such as tequila and mezcal. As a result, alternative uses for aguamiel have been explored, including aguamiel syrup. This syrup is made by thermally concentrating aguamiel from various Agave species and has gained popularity in the health-conscious, organic, and functional food markets due to its nutraceutical properties. Two important bioactive compounds found in aguamiel and aguamiel syrup are saponins, which have anticancer, adjuvant, immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hypocholesterolemic, and antioxidant properties, and agavin-type functional oligosaccharides, which have prebiotic activity and can help reduce energy intake in humans. However, the traditional artisanal process used to create aguamiel syrup has made it difficult to standardize its composition and increase its commercial value. This review focuses on the characteristics of aguamiel as a raw material for producing aguamiel syrup, exploring its physicochemical composition and nutraceutical properties. A proposed semi-industrial process based on the evidence from consulted references could help modernize the production of aguamiel syrup.
Overcurrent Protection in Electric Arc Furnaces Arias-Guzman, S.; Ustariz-Farfan, A. J.; Cano-Plata, E. A.
IEEE transactions on industry applications,
2019-Nov.-Dec., 2019-11-00, 20191101, Letnik:
55, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
This article proposes a new adaptive protection setting methodology for steel manufacturers, aiming to reduce miscoordination between main feeders and current consumptions due to fault clearance or ...high load disconnection. By detecting abrupt changes in current consumption, the computation of different protection settings may be achieved. The application of this methodology is performed through the assessment of a steel manufacturer who sustained an arc blast of one of their protection cells, and a description of the way in which the proposal permits avoidance of such catastrophic conditions.
We have reported that attenuated Salmonella (S) carrying plasmids encoding the cysteine protease cruzipain (Cz) protects against Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Here, we determined whether ...immunoprotection could be improved by the oral coadministration of 3 Salmonella carrying the plasmids that encode the antigens Cz, Tc52, and Tc24. SCz+STc52+STc24-immunized mice presented an increased antibody response against each antigen compared with those in the single antigen-immunized groups, as well as higher trypomastigotes antibody-mediated lyses and cell invasion inhibition compared with controls. SCz+STc52+STc24-immunized and -challenged mice rendered lower parasitemia. Weight loss after infection was detected in all mice except those in the SCz+STc52+STc24 group. Moreover, cardiomyopathy-associated enzyme activity was significantly lower in SCz+5Tc24+STc52-immunized mice compared with controls. Few or no abnormalities were found in muscle tissues of SCz+STc24+STc52-immunized mice, whereas controls presented with inflammatory foci, necrosis, and amastigote nests. We conclude that a multicomponent approach that targets several invasion and metabolic mechanisms improves protection compared with single-component vaccines.
Human paraoxonase (PON1) plays a role in detoxification of organophosphorus (OP) compounds by hydrolyzing the bioactive oxons, and in reducing oxidative low-density lipoproteins, which may protect ...against atherosclerosis. Some PON1 polymorphisms have been found to be responsible for variations in catalytic activity and expression and have been associated with susceptibility to OP poisoning and vascular diseases. Both situations are of public health relevance in Mexico. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate PON1 phenotype and the frequencies of polymorphisms PON1 −162, −108, 55, and 192 in a Mexican population. The studied population consisted of unrelated individuals (
n = 214) of either gender, 18–52 years old. Serum PON1 activity was assayed using phenylacetate and paraoxon as substrates. PON1 variants, −162, 55, and 192, were determined by real-time PCR using the TaqMan System, and PON1 −108 genotype by PCR-RFLP. We found a wide interindividual variability of PON1 activity with a unimodal distribution; the range of enzymatic activity toward phenylacetate was 84.72 to 422.0 U/mL, and 88.37 to 1645.6 U/L toward paraoxon. All four PON1 polymorphisms showed strong linkage disequilibrium (D% >90). PON1 polymorphisms −108, 55, and 192 were independently associated with arylesterase activity; whereas the activity toward paraoxon was related only with PON1 192 polymorphism, suggesting that this polymorphism is determinant to infer PON1 activity. A better understanding of the phenotype and genotypes of PON1 in Mexican populations will facilitate further epidemiological studies involving PON1 variability in OP poisoning and in the development of atherosclerosis.
Background
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the standard of care in the management of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Its cost‐effectiveness in an emerging Asian country has not been studied.
...Objectives
A cost‐utility analysis of RFA versus optimal medical therapy (OMT) among Filipinos with SVT was conducted using the public healthcare provider's perspective.
Methods
A simulation cohort using a lifetime Markov model was constructed using patient interviews, a review of literature, and expert consensus. Three basic health states were defined: stable, SVT recurrence, and death. The incremental cost per quality‐adjusted life year (ICER) was determined for both arms. Utilities for the entry states were derived from patient interviews using the EQ5D‐5L tool; utilities for other health states were taken from publications. Costs were assessed from the healthcare payer perspective. A sensitivity analysis was done.
Results
Base case analysis showed that RFA versus OMT is both highly cost‐effective at 5 years and over a lifetime. RFA at 5 years costs about PhP276,913.58 (USD5,446) versus OMT of PhP151,550.95 (USD2,981) per patient. Discounted lifetime costs were PhP280,770.32 (USD5,522) for RFA, versus PhP259,549.74 (USD5,105) for OMT. There was improved quality of life with RFA (8.1 vs. 5.7 QALYs per patient). The 5‐year and lifetime incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios were PhP148,741.40 (USD2,926) and Php15,000 (USD295), respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed 56.7% of simulations for RFA fell below a GDP‐benchmarked willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) threshold.
Conclusion
Despite the initial higher cost, RFA versus OMT for SVT is highly cost‐effective from the Philippine public health payer's perspective.
Radiofrequency ablation for Supraventricular tachycardia has been found to be highly cost‐effective, costing less than one GDP, based on a Markov model of patients from an emerging economy. This finding is robust across a wide range of inputs in the sensitivity analysis. This may be explained by the curative nature of the procedure.
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