Resumen Antecedentes: En México, donde el 50 % del bosque nuboso montano tropical (BSTM) original se ha perdido debido a las actividades humanas por lo que la restauración de estos bosques es fundamental. Preguntas y / o Hipótesis: (1) Liquidambar styraciflua L. favorece la sobrevivencia y crecimiento de especies de Quercus germana Schltdl. & Cham. y Quercus germana Schltdl. (2) ¿Existen efectos competitivos entre las nodrizas y las especies beneficiarias? y (3) ¿La magnitud de estas interacciones interespecíficas positivas/negativas se ve afectada por la cobertura del dosel de las enfermeras? Especies de estudio: L. styraciflua (árbol pionero), M. schiedeana (árbol de sucesión media) and Q. germana (árbol de sucesión tardía). Sitio y años de estudio: Un barbecho en Xilitla, estado de San Luis Potosí, México, entre 2016 y 2018. Métodos: Se trasplantaron plántulas de especies de sucesión media y tardía a 0.3 m y 2 m de distancia de los tallos del árbol pionero (vástagos protegidos y desprotegidos, respectivamente). Se comparó el rendimiento de las especies después de dos años y los efectos de la cubierta de dosel de los árboles pioneros. Resultados: Los árboles pioneros facilitaron las probabilidades de establecimiento de los de sucesión media y tardía. El aumento de la cobertura del dosel de los árboles pioneros mejoró las probabilidades de establecimiento de ambas especies beneficiarias. Conclusiones: El trasplante conjunto de árboles pioneros con plántulas de árboles de sucesión media y tardía es una estrategia para favorecer la recuperación del ecosistema.

Abstract Background: In Mexico, where 50 % of the original Tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) has been lost due to human activities, the restoration of these forests is essential. Questions and/or hypotheses: (1) Liquidambar styraciflua L. favors the survival and growth of Quercus germana Schltdl. & Cham. and Magnolia schiedeana Schltdl. species (2) Are there competitive effects between nurses and beneficiary species? and (3) Is the magnitude of these positive/negative interspecific interactions affected by the canopy cover of nurses? Studied species: L. styraciflua (pioneer tree), M. schiedeana (mid-successional tree) and Q. germana (late-successional tree). Study site and dates: A fallow in Xilitla, state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, between 2016 and 2018. Methods: Seedling of mid- and late-successional species were transplanted 0.3 m and 2 m away from the stems of pioneer tree (protected and unprotected saplings, respectively). Performance of the species were compared after two years and the effects of canopy cover of pioneer trees. Results: Pioneer trees facilitated the establishment probabilities of the mid-and late-successional ones. Increasing canopy cover of pioneer trees enhanced the establishment probabilities of both beneficiary species. Conclusions: Joint transplanting of pioneer trees with mid- and late-successional tree seedlings in their close vicinity is a strategy to favor the recovery of the ecosystem.

Resumen Antecedentes. La diabetes es un importante problema de salud que afecta la calidad de vida a mediano y largo plazo. Objetivo. Identificar la asociación entre la calidad de vida y la comorbilidad, el control metabólico y el estilo de vida de pacientes con diabetes tipo 2. Método. Se realizó un estudio transversal en 392 pacientes. Se midieron la hemoglobina glucosilada, la glucosa de ayuno, el perfil de lípidos, la presión arterial, el peso, la circunferencia de la cintura y la composición corporal. Se evaluaron la neuropatía diabética, la enfermedad renal, la salud visual, la dieta y el ejercicio físico. La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) se midió con la encuesta en su versión corta de 36 ítems (SF-36). Resultados. La edad promedio fue de 54.6 años, el 68% fueron mujeres y la mediana de años de diagnóstico de diabetes fue de 7 años. Un 80% tienen una buena CVRS (SF-36 ≥ 50). La dimensión con mayor puntaje fue función física (81.0), y la más baja fue vitalidad (46.5). La grasa corporal se asoció a más afectaciones en las dimensiones del SF-36 (p < 0.05). Los factores asociados a una peor CVRS son la inactividad física (odds ratio [OR]: 2.7; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 1.10-6.62; p = 0.009), la hipertensión arterial (OR: 1.78; IC95%: 1.05-3.02; p = 0.032) y ser mujer (OR: 2.7; IC95%: 1.45-5.27; p = 0.002). Conclusiones. Una pobre calidad de vida se asocia con mayor porcentaje de grasa, inactividad física e hipertensión en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2.

Abstract Background. Diabetes is a significant health problem that affects quality of life in the medium and long term. Objective. To identify the association between quality of life with comorbidity, metabolic control, and lifestyle in patients with type 2 diabetes. Method. A cross-sectional study was performed in 392 patients. Glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure, weight, waist circumference and body composition were measured. Diabetic neuropathy, renal disease, visual health, diet and physical exercise were measured. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured with the 36-item Short Form survey (SF-36). Results. The mean age was 54.6 years, 68 % were women, median years of diabetes diagnosis was 7 years. Eighty percent had a good HRQoL (SF-36 ≥ 50). The dimension with the highest score was physical function (81.0), and vitality the lowest (46.5). Body fat was associated with more impairments in the SF-36 dimensions (p < 0.05). Factors associated with worse HRQOL are physical inactivity (odds ratio [OR]: 2.7; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.10-6.62; p = 0.009), arterial hypertension (OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.05-3.02; p = 0.032) and being female (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.45-5.27; p = 0.002). Conclusions. Poor quality of life is associated with higher fat percentage, physical inactivity and hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract In recent years, resistant starch (RS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS) have been linked to the prevention of chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as obesity and its complications. Southern Mexico has an important role in the tuber crop production of M. esculenta and I. batatas, which contain considerable amounts of starch. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological and physicochemical changes of M. esculenta and I. batatas after pyrodextrinization, including the production of RS and SDS. The factors used in this study were the starch/acid ratio (2.2 HCl) (80:1 and 160:1 p/v); temperature (90 °C and 110 °C) and reaction time (1 and 3 h). The highest production of RS in M. esculenta was obtained with the highest starch/acid ratio and temperature, and the lowest reaction time. For pyrodextrins, loss of crystallinity and an increase in swelling power and water absorption capacity were observed. The highest production of RS in I. batatas was obtained with the highest starch/acid ratio and reaction time, and the lowest temperature. Crystallinity and enthalpy of gelatinization decreased in modified starches. The solubility, swelling power and water absorption capacity increased in both sources.

Abstract European hedgehogs, Erinaceus europaeus (Linnaeus, 1758), are small mammals found in western Europe and also in parts of northern Europe. They can be seen in rural, suburban and urban areas, but are usually found in grassland with edge habitats. These animals are omnivorous and serve as definitive or paratenic hosts for several parasites, including acanthocephalans (phylum Acanthocephala). During necropsy of a European hedgehog, a single adult parasite was collected from the intestinal lumen and preserved in 70% ethanol. After morphological evaluation of the specimen, it was identified as Moniliformis cestodiformis (von Linstow, 1904) (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae). This is the first report of M. cestodiformis in a European hedgehog, as well as in Europe. More epidemiological studies need to be carried out to map the location and prevalence of this parasite in Portugal and the European continent.

Resumo Os ouriços, Erinaceus europaeus (Linnaeus, 1758), são pequenos mamíferos que se localizam na Europa ocidental e também em regiões do Norte da Europa. Eles podem ser avistados em áreas rurais, suburbanas e urbanas, mas são geralmente encontrados no campo no limite daqueles hábitats. São animais omnívoros e servem de hospedeiros definitivos ou paratênicos de muitos parasitas, incluindo acantocéfalos (filo Acanthocephala). Durante a necropsia de um ouriço, um exemplar adulto acantocéfalo foi recolhido do lúmen intestinal e preservado em etanol a 70%. Depois de uma avaliação morfológica desse exemplar, este foi identificado como Moniliformis cestodiformis (von Linstow, 1904) (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae). Esta é a primeira referência de M. cestodiformis num ouriço, assim como na Europa. Mais estudos epidemiológicos necessitam ser realizados, para localizar este parasita e calcular a sua prevalência em Portugal e no continente europeu.

Agathisflavone is a natural biflavone with restricted occurrence in plants. This biflavone presents several biological activities and can be important to developing new drugs. Obtaining such a molecule on a large scale for in vivo tests is a challenge. To date, there are no reports regarding its synthesis; thus, it is important to improve and develop methods for the purification of this bioactive compound from natural sources. Previous studies indicated that the leaves of Poincianella pyramidalis (Leguminosae) had agathisflavone predominantly. However, obtaining this compound requires some steps of chromatographic procedures and extraction with organic solvents. This paper compares four procedures for the purification of agathisflavone from its leaves, two by traditional chromatographic techniques and by complexation with inorganic bases. The purification in the automatic flash chromatography in two steps provides a high-yield extraction; the two procedures using alkaline extraction and the traditional method reduced to three steps provided the compound with similar yields. The biflavone was identified by TLC, and HPLC analysis showed that it was isolated with > 99% of purity. Thus, the applied methodologies provided the purification of this compound employing less volume of solvents, the number of chromatographic column procedures, and time-consuming, with increased yields.

This work describes the isolation of pure bergenin from Peltophorum dubium roots with good yields and its further derivatization through Williamson synthesis. The alkyl derivatives of the bergenin were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry data analysis. Among them, three derivatives were reported for the first time herein, 8,10-dihexyl-bergenin, 8,10-didecyl-bergenin, and 8,10-ditetradecyl-bergenin, along with three previously reported ones (8,10-dimethylbergenin, 8-methylbergenin, 8,10-dioctyl-bergenin). Most derivatives of the bergenin displayed moderate cytotoxicity against Artemia salina, except the 8,10-dihexyl-bergenin (lethal concentration doses for 50% (LC50) = 70.55 µg mL-1). The antimicrobial assay showed that all derivatives selectively inhibited the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, and two of them (8,10-dihexyl-bergenin and 8,10-didecyl-bergenin) had promising activities (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 5.1-6.2 µmol L-1). In addition, bergenin displayed interesting inhibition on acetylcholinesterase (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 141.19 ± 0.41 µmol L-1), while its semi-synthetic derivatives displayed modest activity. Our results revealed that the antibacterial activity of bergenin could be greatly improved through its structural modification.

This work describes the importance of using renewable sources in experimental classes for undergraduate students, as well as to spread the ideas of using biomass wastes as a source of products of interest. Therefore, in the proposed experiment, citrus fruit peel waste was employed to obtain pure flavonoids by extraction and recristalization. These procedures are important to reveal to students how bioactive products can be easily obtained from natural sources. In this way, naringin and hesperidin could be efficiently extracted from grapefruit (Citrus x. paradisi L.) and common orange (Citrus sinensis L. osbeck) peel wastes, respectively, using simple alcohols as solvents.

Resumen Introducción. La pandemia COVID-19 que se declaró el 11 de marzo de este año, se extendió desde China a todo el mundo rápidamente, y la gran cantidad de pacientes infectados ha saturado nuestro precario sistema de salud, lo que ha obligado a restringir la actividad quirúrgica electiva y de emergencia. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir las características clínicas y quirúrgicas de los pacientes con COVID-19 operados en el servicio de emergencia del Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins - EsSalud. Método. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, observacional y retrospectivo, donde se incluyeron los pacientes con diagnóstico de COVID-19 operados por el servicio de emergencia, entre el 6 de marzo y el 8 de junio de 2020. Se analizan las características clínicas, hallazgos en los exámenes diagnósticos y características quirúrgicas. Resultados. Se operaron de emergencia 26 pacientes y se realizaron 17 cesáreas, 4 apendicectomías, 2 resecciones intestinales con ostomía, una herniorrafia inguinal, una rafia vesical y una laparotomía exploradora. Todas tuvieron abordaje abierto. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron tos y fiebre; 23% los pacientes fueron asintomáticos. El diagnóstico de COVID-19 se confirmó con pruebas rápidas o serológicas. En el grupo de patología abdominal se elevaron la proteína C reactiva y el dímero D más que en el grupo de cesáreas. Se encontró una complicación (infección del sitio operatorio) y no se observó fallecimientos. Conclusión. La adopción de medidas restrictivas en la indicación quirúrgica de emergencia en los pacientes puede explicar la ausencia de complicaciones severas y fallecimientos en esta serie.

Abstract Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic that was declared on March 11 of this year, spread from China to the entire world rapidly, and the large number of infected patients has saturated our precarious health system, which has forced to restrict the elective and emergency surgical activity. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and surgical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 operated on in the emergency service of the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital - EsSalud. Method. A descriptive, observational and retrospective study was performed, which included patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 operated by the emergency service, between March 6 and June 8, 2020. The clinical characteristics, diagnostic tests and surgical findings were analyzed. Results. 26 patients underwent emergency surgery and 17 caesarean sections, four appendectomies, two intestinal resections with ostomy, an inguinal herniorrhaphy, a bladder raffia and an exploratory laparotomy were performed. All had an open approach. The most frequent symptoms were cough and fever; 23% of the patients were asymptomatic. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed with rapid or serological tests. In the abdominal pathology group, C-reactive protein and D-dimer were elevated more than in the cesarean section. A complication was found (infection of the surgical site) and no deaths were observed. Conclusion. The adoption of restrictive measures in surgical indications for emergency patients may explain the absence of severe complications and deaths in this series.

This work describes the chemical composition of MeOH seeds and flowers extracts of Tapirira guianensis, a known tree that occurs in the Brazilian Atlantic forest. The CH2Cl2 soluble fraction of seeds extract was submitted to chromatographic procedures to obtain a mixture of new alkenyl dihydrobenzofuranoids which were identified as 2-[(10’Z)-dodec-10’-enyl]-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-ol, 2-[(10’Z)-tridec-10’-enyl]-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-ol e 2-[(10’Z)-pentadec-10’-enyl]-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-ol (1 - 3) besides β-sitosterol. From the EtOAc soluble fraction of flowers MeOH extract quercetin, quercitrin and gallic acid were obtained by chromatographic techniques. The fatty acid composition of oils from leaves and seeds were also determinate and the leaves’ oil is composed by 63.94% of saturated and 36.04% of unsaturated fatty acids while in the seeds the oil present 42.13% of saturated and 57.87% of unsaturated. All compounds and derivatives were identified by their spectrometric data analysis. The brine shrimp test of the extracts showed the seed CH2Cl2 and the EtOAc and BuOH soluble fractions of the flowers were actives and, the alkyl phenols are the responsible for this moderate activity. The antioxidant tests of the extracts indicated EtOAc soluble fraction of MeOH extract of flowers showed better results possibly due the presence of flavonoids and gallic acid.