Interest in developing novel wound dressings with antibacterial properties elaborated from natural sources continues to grow. In this study, a Tween-80 (T80)-stabilized carvacrol (CAR) emulsion was ...incorporated into pectin (PEC) membranes at 0 (control), 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00% (v/v). Membranes were obtained by the dry-casting method, characterized by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and CAR retention (HPLC), and tested for antibacterial activity. The retention percentage of CAR in the membranes ranged from 9.1-13.9%. Infrared spectra analysis indicated changes in the hydrogen bonds of the membranes that suggest an interaction between the polymer matrix and the CAR:T80 emulsion. Microstructural analysis of the membranes showed the presence of hole-like features on the surface (≈ 4-6 µm diameter) that indicate entrapment of the micelles in the matrix (microcapsules). The PEC-CAR membranes exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, two pathogens commonly associated with wounds and intra-hospital infections.
Background: Fruits and vegetables are potential vehicle of transmission of intestinal parasites. The main aim of this study was to determine prevalence of intestinal parasitic contamination in fruits ...and vegetables sampled from Caborca region, Northwest Mexico.
Methods: A total of 400 fruit and vegetable samples were collected from unregulated open-air markets and closed (i.e., regulated) markets in Caborca region of Northwest Mexico; including melon, peach, asparagus, and grapes. Faust, Kinyoun, and Enzyme- Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) techniques were used to detect and identify the genus and species of all parasites found in the examined samples. Data were statistically analyzed using STATA/SE (version 12.0).
Results: An overall prevalence (45%) of parasitic contamination was found in the 400 fruit and vegetable samples. Endolimax nana (27.5%) and Entamoeba coli (17.5%) were the most common nonpathogenic parasites, while the most prevalent parasitic pathogens were Cryptosporidium spp. (11.7%), Cyclospora spp., (11.0%), and Blastocystis hominis (9.2%). Asparagus (31%) and grapes (38.9%) had significantly (p<0.05) higher percent- ages of overall and multiple parasitic contamination than melon (10.6%) and peaches (19.4%). The fresh produce from the open-air markets had significantly (p<0.05) higher overall parasitic contamination (53.5%) than those of the closed establishments (36.5%).
Conclusion: The parasitic contamination in the fresh produce sold in the Northwest region of Mexico is a serious public health concern.
The aim of this study was to evaluate an intensive lifestyle intervention for weight management among youth in a primary care setting on insulin sensibility, compared to a control group. The study ...included 42 youths 9-17 years old (n=23 intensive lifestyle intervention, n=19 control group) who completed a randomized trial for weight management in a primary care setting which included an oral glucose tolerance test. The intensive lifestyle intervention included monthly consultations with the primary care physician, nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian (weekly first 3 months and then monthly) and 12 group sessions in a behavioral change protocol. The control group attended monthly consultations with the primary care physician. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by the Insulin Sensitivity Index ISI(0,120) at baseline and 6 months posttreatment. At 6 months, the mean ± DE, increase in insulin sensitivity was greater in the intensive lifestyle intervention than the control group (+46.8 ± 56 vs. +5.6 ± 47, betweengroup difference 41.2 CI 95%, 8.5, 73.9, p= 0.01). Sixty five percent of youths on the intensive lifestyle intervention increased insulin sensitivity over 9 units vs. 32% in the control group (p=0.03). This study shows preliminary evidence that an intensive lifestyle intervention program can be an alternative model to improve insulin sensitivity among youths in the primary care setting. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de un programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida para el control de peso sobre la sensibilidad a la insulina en niños y adolescentes en el primer nivel de atención. El estudio incluyó a 42 niños y adolescentes de 9 a17 años (n=23 grupo intensivo, n=19 grupo control) que participaron en un estudio clínico aleatorizado para el tratamiento de obesidad. El programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida incluyó consultas mensuales con el médico del primer nivel de atención, asesoría dietética con el nutriólogo (semanal los primeros 3 meses y luego mensual) y 12 sesiones grupales en un protocolo de cambio de conducta. El grupo control incluyó solamente las consultas médicas mensuales. La sensibilidad a la insulina se estimó por el índice de sensibilidad a la insulina (ISI(0,120)) al inicio y a los 6 meses de intervención. Los niños y adolescentes del programa intensivo mostraron un mayor efecto en la sensibilidad a la insulina a los 6 meses en comparación al grupo control (media ± DE, + 46.8 ± 56 vs. + 5.6 ± 47, diferencia 41.2 IC 95%, 8.5, 73.9, p= 0.01) y 65% lograron aumentar la sensibilidad a la insulina >9 unidades vs. 32% en el grupo control (p=0.03). Este estudio muestra evidencia preliminar que un programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida puede ser un modelo alternativo para mejorar la sensibilidad a la insulina en los niños y adolescentes con obesidad en el primer nivel de atención.
The aim of this study was to evaluate an intensive lifestyle intervention for weight management among youth in a primary care setting on insulin sensibility, compared to a control group. The study ...included 42 youths 9-17 years old (n=23 intensive lifestyle intervention, n=19 control group) who completed a randomized trial for weight management in a primary care setting which included an oral glucose tolerance test. The intensive lifestyle intervention included monthly consultations with the primary care physician, nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian (weekly first 3 months and then monthly) and 12 group sessions in a behavioral change protocol. The control group attended monthly consultations with the primary care physician. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by the Insulin Sensitivity Index ISI(0,120) at baseline and 6 months posttreatment. At 6 months, the mean +/- DE, increase in insulin sensitivity was greater in the intensive lifestyle intervention than the control group (+46.8 +/- 56 vs. +5.6 +/- 47, between-group difference 41.2 CI 95%, 8.5, 73.9, p = 0.01): Sixty five percent of youths on the intensive lifestyle intervention increased insulin sensitivity over 9 units vs. 32% in the control group (p=0.03). This study shows preliminary evidence that an intensive lifestyle intervention program can be an alternative model to improve insulin sensitivity among youths in the primary care setting.
Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between trichuriasis and iron status in rural schoolchildren from Northwest Mexico. Subjects/Methods: A total of 73 ...schoolchildren (37 boys, 36 girls) between the ages of 6 and 10 years were voluntarily recruited from the public primary school of the rural community of El Higueral in Culiacan, Sinaloa (Northwest Mexico) for a cross-sectional study with a longitudinal follow-up of 5 weeks. Data were collected on socioeconomic status, anthropometry, haematological and biochemical indices of iron status, daily iron intake, and prevalence and intensity of trichuriasis. Multiple regression models, independent t-test and paired t-test were used to analyse the association between trichuriasis and iron status in cross-sectional and longitudinal samples, respectively. Adjusted models were tested for linear regression assumptions using residual plots. Results: The mean age of the Trichuris-free and Trichuris-infected groups was 7.7±1.3 and 7.7±1.5 years respectively (P=0.92). The height for age was significantly higher in the Trichuris-free group than the Trichuris-infected group (P=0.02). No differences were found in the socioeconomic variables between the two groups. At baseline, significantly higher concentrations of haemoglobin, haematocrit, blood cell count (RBC) and serum iron were measured in the Trichuris-free group compared with the Trichuris-infected children (P<0.05). An association was found between trichuriasis and haemoglobin adjusted for socioeconomic variables, age and sex. Haemoglobin, RBC and serum ferritin concentrations were significantly increased in the infected children 5 weeks after treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: Trichuriasis could be a risk factor for low-iron status in the schoolchildren of Northwest Mexico.
Undernutrition and intestinal parasitic infections affect childhood development and morbidity in many developing countries. Undernutrition may increase susceptibility to parasitic infections which in ...turn impair the nutritional status of the host. The relationship between intestinal parasitic infections and nutritional status in 400 Mexican schoolchildren was investigated. More than half of the children in the study showed intestinal parasites and polyparasitism. The prevalence of helminth infections was significantly higher in Oaxaca than in Sinaloa (
P < 0.05).
Z scores for weight-for-age (WA) and height-for-age (HA) were much lower in children of Oaxaca than in Sinaloa (
P < 0.001). A significantly higher
Z score for weight-for-height (WH), WA, and HA were found in non-infected versus infected children (
P < 0.05). Higher prevalences of intestinal infections were found in children with lower HA and WA than in normally nourished children (
P < 0.05). Higher intensities of
Ascaris lumbricoides and
Trichuris trichiura were found in the schoolchildren of Sinaloa than in Oaxaca (
P < 0.01). Negative and significant associations were found between
Hymenolepis nana and
T. trichiura infection (eggs per gram) and nutritional status. Intestinal parasitic infections may be regarded as main risk factors associated with poor nutritional status in Mexican schoolchildren.
RESUMEN: El quitosano (CH) tiene propiedades hemostáticas, cicatrizantes y estimulantes del sistema inmune del hospedero contra infecciones virales y bacterianas. Además es biodegradable, no tóxico, ...antimicrobiano, biocompatible y filmogénico. Estas propiedades han sido utilizadas para acarrear y liberar compuestos bioactivos para sus posibles usos en la salud humana. Por otro lado, los compuestos bioactivos como los aceites esenciales de gran volatilidad como romero (RMO) Rosmarinus officinalis y árbol de té (TTO) Melaleuca alternifolia, pueden ser alternativa importante de uso como antioxidantes y antimicrobianos que podrían inducir cambios favorables en la membrana de CH. Por lo tanto, se incorporaron aceites esenciales de TTO y RMO (0.25, 0.50 y 1.00% v/v) en membranas de CH por el método de casting y se evaluaron su solubilidad, PVA, transparencia y capacidad de bloqueo de la luz ultravioleta, capacidad antioxidante y de protección del eritrocito humano. RMO y TTO redujeron la solubilidad (28-58%) y PVA (entre 28-58%) de las membranas de CH. Todas las membranas fueron amarillas, ligeramente opacas y con capacidad de bloquear la luz ultravioleta. También, las membranas mostraron relativa baja capacidad antioxidante por el radical ABTS (≈ 6 at 9 %), pero con excelente efecto protector sobre el eritrocito humano (> 63 %).
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of microemulsions of rosemary (AER) and tea tree (AET) essential oils on human erythrocyte and pathogen bacteria. Microemulsions of each oil were ...prepared at 8.0% (v/v), 5.0% (v/v) and 2.5% (v/v), and they were tested on human erythrocyte to determine the hemolysis percentage, hemolysis inhibition percentage and the antibacterial capacity against E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus. All AER microemulsions showed no significant hemolytic activity. On the contrary, AET microemulsions showed hemolytic effect but those in concentrations of 8.0% (≈70%) and 5.0% (33%) showed the highest effect. In addition, AER microemulsions showed protective effect against free radicals in comparison with the AET microemulsions (p<0.05). On the other hand, the AET microemulsion at 8.0% showed antibacterial effect against E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus, and the AER at 8.0% showed antibacterial effect against E. coli O157:H7. The limitation of this study was that nucleated cells were not used to observe the damage of the essential oils on nuclear material. However, the observed damage of erythrocyte’s membrane is depending on type and amount of used oil. Therefore, it can be concluded that the AER microemulsions showed better protective effect of erythrocytes, while AET microemulsions showed better antibacterial effect against the tested bacteria, although with toxic effect on the erythrocytes.
Chitosan (CH) has hemostatic properties and accelerated healing ability to stimulate the host immune system against viral and bacterial infections. It is also biodegradable, nontoxic, antimicrobial, ...biocompatible, and capable of forming membranes and to carry and to release bioactive compounds. These properties of CH can be useful to carry some volatile essential oils having bioactive compounds (antioxidants and antimicrobials) with potential ap-plication in human health as those as rosemary (RMO) Rosmarinus officinalis and tea tree (TTO) Melaleuca alter-nifolia. These essential oils were incorporated into the chitosan by the casting method in this study. The physical properties (solubility, PVA, transparency and blocking ultraviolet light) of these membranes with TTO and RMO (0.25, 0.50 and 1.00% v/v), antioxidant capacity and protection human erythrocyte were evaluated. TTO and RMO reduced solubility (28-58%) and PVA (between 28-58%) of CH membranes. All membranes were yellow, slightly opaque and they were able to block the ultraviolet light. Membranes also showed relatively low antioxidant capac-ity by the radical ABTS (≈ 6 at 9%), but it was accompanied by an excellent protective effect on the human erythro-cyte (> 63%).
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