Laureliopsis philippiana (Looser) R. Schodde (Monimiaceae) is a native tree widespread in the forest areas in the south of Chile and Argentina, known for its medicinal properties and excellent wood. ...The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of L. philippiana leaf and bark essential oils (EOs) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and to quantify its anti-oomycete activity, specifically against Saprolegnia parasitica and S. australis. Only six components were identified in leaf EO, 96.92% of which are phenylpropanoids and 3.08% are terpenes. As for bark EO, 29 components were identified, representing 67.61% for phenylpropanoids and 32.39% for terpenes. Leaf EO was characterized mainly by safrole (96.92%) and β-phellandrene (1.80%). Bark EO was characterized mainly by isosafrole (30.07%), safrole (24.41%), eucalyptol (13.89%), methyleugenol (7.12%), and eugenol (6.01%). Bark EO has the most promising anti-Saprolegnia activity, with a minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) value of 30.0 µg/mL against mycelia growth and a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) value of 50.0 μg/mL against spores; for leaf EO, the MIC and MFC values are 100 and 125 µg/mL, respectively. These findings demonstrate that bark EO has potential to be developed as a remedy for the control of Saprolegnia spp. in aquaculture.
The aim of this study was to determine, first, the chemical composition of
(Griseb) Moldenke essential oil, from leaves harvested in central Chile; and second, its antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. ...Eight compounds were identified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses, with the most representative being
-carvone (91.03%),
-limonene (4.10%), and dihydrocarvone (1.07%). For
essential oil, antioxidant assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), H
O
, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP)) showed good antioxidant activity compared to commercial antioxidant controls; and anti-proliferative assays against three human cancer cell lines (colon, HT-29; prostate, PC-3; and breast, MCF-7) determined an IC
of 5.85, 6.74, and 9.53 µg/mL, and selectivity indices of 4.75, 4.12, and 2.92 for HT-29, PC-3, and MCF-7, respectively. We also report on assays with CCD 841 CoN (colon epithelial). Overall, results from this study may represent, in the near future, developments for natural-based cancer treatments.
Placental structure in gestational diabetes mellitus Carrasco-Wong, Ivo; Moller, Alejandra; Giachini, Fernanda R. ...
Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease,
02/2020, Volume:
1866, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
The placenta is a transitory organ, located between the mother and the foetus, which supports intrauterine life. This organ has nutritional, endocrine and immunologic functions to support foetal ...development. Several factors are related to the correct functioning of the placenta including foetal and maternal blood flow, appropriate nutrients, expression and function of receptors and transporters, and the morphology of the placenta itself. Placental morphology is crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of the organ as represents the physical structure where nutrient exchange occurs. In pathologies of pregnancy such as diabetes mellitus in humans and animal models, several changes in the placental morphology occur, related mainly with placental size, hypervascularization, higher branching capillaries of the villi and increased glycogen deposits among others. Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with modifications in the structure of the human placenta including changes in the surface area and volume, as well as histological changes including an increased volume of intervillous space and terminal villi, syncytiotrophoblast number, fibrinoid areas, and glycogen deposits. These modifications may result in functional changes in this organ thus limiting the wellbeing of the developing foetus. This review gives an overview of recurrent morphological changes at macroscopic and histological levels seen in the placenta from gestational diabetes in humans and animal models. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Transporters and Receptors in Pregnancy Metabolic Complications edited by Luis Sobrevia.
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•Placenta of mothers with GDM present morphological alterations•Placenta in GDM pregnancy development compensatory changes•Morphological compensations maintain the placenta efficiency•Chemical diabetogenic murine models reflect the alteration of human placenta•Murine models of HFD–induced diabetes placenta shows morphological alterations
Sixteen synthetic linear derivatives geranylphenols, were obtained from phloroglucinol and orcinol, and cytotoxic activity was evaluated in vitro against cancer cell lines (HT-29, PC-3, MDA-MB231, ...DU-145) and one non-tumor cell line, human dermal fibroblast (HDF). IC50 values were determined at concentrations of 0–100 μM of each compound for 72 h. Compounds 12, 13, 17, 21, 22 and 25, showed cytotoxic activity. To elucidate whether these compounds reduce cell viability by inducing apoptosis, cell lines MCF-7, PC-3 and DHF were treated with each active compound 12, 13, 17, 21, 22 and 25 and were examined after Hoechst 33342 staining. The compounds 12, 13 and 17 induced apoptosis in various cancer cell lines, as shown by nuclear condensation and/or fragmentation. In addition, it was found that compounds 12 and 13, induced changes in mitochondrial membrane permeability in those cancer cell lines. Such induction was associated with the depletion of mitochondrial membrane potential. These activities led to the cleavage of caspases inducing the cell death process.
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•The phloroglucinol & orcinol derivatives show cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.•These compounds may induce apoptosis through activation of the mitochondrial pathway.•The activity of these compounds depend of the amount of chains geranyl presents.•The activity depend of the symmetry of substitution in the aromatic ring.
ABSTRACT Leptocarpha rivularis is an autochthonous plant of the southern zone of Chile known as “Palo negro” that has been traditionally used by Mapuche people as anti-inflammatory and reliever of ...abdominal pain. More recently, aqueous infusion of this plant is being used in the treatment of cancer. The main phytochemical components of L. rivularis have been identified as a sesquiterpene lactones (SQL) being leptocarpine (LTC) the major component, which exhibits pro-apoptotic action against a variety of cancer cells lines. In this study we intend to compare the in vitro cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines of two different polarity extracts and LTC. To overcome the poor water-solubility of extracts they have been encapsulated in polymer micelles and its effect on activity has been assessed. The results indicate that both extracts reduce cell viability of all cancer cell lines. The IC50 values obtained for ethyl acetate are in the range of 11-16 μg/mL, and this activity is explained in terms of a synergic effect generated by SQL different to LTC. The IC50 values of extracts incorporated into polymer micelles formed by Pluronic F127 are 200 times lower than those measured for ethyl acetate extract applied in homogeneous solution. Finally, by assessing changes in cell and nuclear morphology it is suggested that the observed cytotoxicity of free and entrapped extracts is produced by apoptotic process. In conclusion, these results suggest that plant extracts may show an increased activity as result of synergic effect of minority components, and an important enhancement of cytotoxicity is induced by entrapment into polymer micelles.
This article presents some results of "CUIDAR; study on times, forms, and spaces of care at home during the pandemic," a research project that explored how the pandemic and the subsequent policies ...implemented by the Chilean government transformed and disrupted the spatialities, temporalities, and practices of care within the households. To do so, we designed a web survey that draws inspiration from care theories emerging from the field of Science and Technology Studies or STS. Such an approach allowed thinking about care as a more-than-human affair that goes beyond a particular moral stance and corresponds more with a doing anchored in the entanglements of human and non-human actors. Data gathered revealed the appearance of new actors while stressing that care is much too relevant and complex to only rest upon specific household members - namely women - who are left to their own devices since policies implemented seem to be unable to support them in the tasks of caring for themselves and others.
•Mature grazing cows are more likely to develop subclinical hypocalcemia regardless of feeding prepartum anionic diets.•The supplementation of 2 boluses of oral calcium 24 h apart at day 1 postpartum ...improve the calcemia and milk yield of cows with parity 3 or more.•The supplementation of 2 boluses of oral calcium 24 h apart at day 1 postpartum improves the calcemia and milk yield of cows in parity ≥3.•Parity number has a strong effect on calcemia in lactating grazing Holstein cows.
The objective of this study was to assess the effect of oral calcium boluses at parturition on plasma total calcium (tCa), phosphorus (P), total magnesium (tMg), beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and milk yield during the postpartum (pp) of grazing Holstein cows. The study was conducted on a seasonal grazing dairy in Chile. Prepartum cows were fed an anionic diet (-86 mEq/kg DM). In 2019, 10 cows of parity 2, 3, and ≥ 4, respectively, were randomly assigned at parturition to a treatment group (n=30), receiving 2 boluses of oral Ca, (CaCl2, providing 44 g Ca) 24 h apart, and matched by parity to a control group (n=30). A blood sample was obtained at d 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 pp. Milk yield was recorded until 30 d pp. Minerals and milk yield were analysed by ANOVA for repeated measures. Treatment had no effect on tCa in parity 2 cows. However, in lactation 3, Ca supplementation increased the concentration of tCa at d 2 and 3 pp, and in lactation ≥ 4 boluses tended to increase tCa at d 2 pp. Higher BHB concentrations at d 4 pp were found in treated cows than in the control cows. Milk yield in lactation 2 was lower in the treated than the control group. In lactations ≥ 3, milk yield was higher in the treated than the control group. In conclusion, two oral Ca boluses at parturition 24 h apart in grazing cattle fed anionic prepartum diets, improved Ca status and milk yield during the postpartum period in cows ≥ 3 lactations.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of rumen-protected (RP) methionine and lysine on milk yield, solids, and body weight over time on fall-calving grazing ...multiparous Holstein cows from Chile. Four treatment groups were studied and compared for the outcomes over time. The treatments were as follows: (i) CON: control (n = 26); (ii) RP lysine group (LYS; 20 g per cow per day; n = 26); (iii) RP methionine group (MET; 20 g per cow per day; n = 26); and (iv) LYS × MET (RP lysine and RP methionine 20 g of each amino acid per cow per day; n = 26). Data were analyzed with general linear mixed model ANOVAs for repeated measures to primarily test the main effects of each amino acid and their interactions. The supplementation of the amino acids was conducted from 2 to 70 days postpartum. Overall, milk production tended to be higher in the MET and in the LYS × MET group when compared to the control group. Furthermore, CON produced significantly less milk protein (kg) and milk fat (kg) than the LYS, MET, and LYS × MET groups. Milk urea tended to be lower during the entire study in the CON group than the rest of the groups. There was a trend for a reduction in the losses of postpartum body weight in the LYS × MET than the CON. In conclusion, RP methionine and lysine improved milk fat and protein yield in grazing multiparous cows with fall parturitions; consequently, both RP amino acids can be used as a strategy for improving grazing cows’ production performance.
•In periodontium citrulline level correlated with periodontitis and MCP-1/CCL2.•In NoRA citrulline level was associated also with anti-P. gingivalis level in serum.•RA patients had high levels of ...inflammatory markers in gingival fluid.•Yeasts were cultured in subgingival biofilm of RA patients.
To analyse the citrulline level in the periodontium in association with the presence of or antibody levels against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), subgingival biofilm and blood serum were sampled from 98 subjects (26 with RA, 72 without RA (NoRA)). GCF was analyzed for the level of citrulline, for interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-17, IL-10 and monocyte-chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. Microorganisms were identified in subgingival biofilms. Antibodies againstP. gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans were quantified in serum.
GCF citrulline level was the lowest (by trend) in NoRA group without periodontitis. In NoRA, but not in RA an association between GCF citrulline level and P. gingivalis antibody levels was found and the GCF citrulline levels were higher in P. gingivalis positive samples. Any association of A. actinomycetemcomitans with GCF citrulline level did not exist. A model of univariate variance analysis (p = 0.001) showed a dependence of GCF citrulline level from the number of sites with PD (probing depth) ≥5 mm (p = 0.003) and the GCF MCP-1/CCL2 level (p = 0.019). Compared with NoRA in RA the number of teeth was lower, the number of sites with PD ≥ 5 mm was less, GCF levels of interleukin-17 and MCP-1/CCL2 were higher and those of IL-10 lower. Yeasts were only cultured in 15 RA patients (p < 0.001).
Citrullination in periodontium might be associated with P. gingivalis supporting the potential role as a trigger in the development of RA. Pathogenesis of periodontal disease in RA patients seems to differ from that in NoRA and should be investigated further.
Summary
Objective
Pathogenic variants in SCN8A have been associated with a wide spectrum of epilepsy phenotypes, ranging from benign familial infantile seizures (BFIS) to epileptic encephalopathies ...with variable severity. Furthermore, a few patients with intellectual disability (ID) or movement disorders without epilepsy have been reported. The vast majority of the published SCN8A patients suffer from severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). In this study, we aimed to provide further insight on the spectrum of milder SCN8A‐related epilepsies.
Methods
A cohort of 1095 patients were screened using a next generation sequencing panel. Further patients were ascertained from a network of epilepsy genetics clinics. Patients with severe DEE and BFIS were excluded from the study.
Results
We found 36 probands who presented with an SCN8A‐related epilepsy and normal intellect (33%) or mild (61%) to moderate ID (6%). All patients presented with epilepsy between age 1.5 months and 7 years (mean = 13.6 months), and 58% of these became seizure‐free, two‐thirds on monotherapy. Neurological disturbances included ataxia (28%) and hypotonia (19%) as the most prominent features. Interictal electroencephalogram was normal in 41%. Several recurrent variants were observed, including Ile763Val, Val891Met, Gly1475Arg, Gly1483Lys, Phe1588Leu, Arg1617Gln, Ala1650Val/Thr, Arg1872Gln, and Asn1877Ser.
Significance
With this study, we explore the electroclinical features of an intermediate SCN8A‐related epilepsy with mild cognitive impairment, which is for the majority a treatable epilepsy.
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