Leucomelanoderma in Blacks

A recent epidemic of leucomelanoderma in Blacks is described. A total of 347 patients was seen in two hospitals during the survey period. The ratio of females to males was 7:1. A striking pattern af patchy depigmentation and mottled hypermelanosis occurred predominantly on the face and neck, but sometimes extended to other areas. Most but not all cases later showed repigmentation. The cause of the dyschromia appeared to be monobenzone, a bleaching agent recently included in certain overnight creams packed in wide-mouthed jars.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1555 (1974

Leucomelanoderma in blacks

A recent epidemic of leucomelanoderma in Blacks is described. A total of 347 patients was seen in two hospitals during the survey period. The ratio of females to males was 7:1. A striking pattern af patchy depigmentation and mottled hypermelanosis occurred predominantly on the face and neck, but sometimes extended to other areas. Most but not all cases later showed repigmentation. The cause of the dyschromia appeared to be monobenzone, a bleaching agent recently included in certain overnight creams packed in wide-mouthed jars.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 1555 (1974)

Age-related changes in plasma levels of BDNF in Down syndrome patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of coronary artery diseases is low among Down Syndrome (DS) patients and they rarely die of atherosclerotic complications. Histopathological investigations showed no increase in atherosclerosis, or even a total lack of atherosclerotic changes, in DS</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between age and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in Down Syndrome (DS).</p> <p>Subjects and methods</p> <p>Three groups of DS patients were studied: the first consisted of 23 children (age 2-14 years); the second of 14 adults (age 20-50 years), the third group of 13 elderly persons (>60 years) and a controls group of 20 healthy patients (age 15-60 years).</p> <p>The analytes of interest were quantified using a biochip array analyzer (Evidence^®, Randox Ltd., Crumlin, UK).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Plasma BDNF was higher in DS patients than in controls and there was a significant age-related increase. Serum levels of IL-6 and MCP-1 were also higher in DS children and adults, but not in older patients, than in healthy control. High levels of circulating BDNF may protect DS patients from the clinical complications of atherosclerosis. However, the striking drop in peripheral BDNF levels with age might predispose these patients to clinical manifestations of dementia in later life.</p

Natural zeolites chabazite/phillipsite/analcime increase blood levels of antioxidant enzymes

Imbalance between reactive oxygen species generation and antioxidant capacity induces a condition known as oxidative stress which is implicated in numerous pathological processes. In this study we evaluated whether natural zeolites chabazite/phillipsite/analcime may affect the levels of different antioxidant enzymes (gluthatione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, gluthatione reductase), total antioxidant status and oxidative stress in 25 clinically healthy men, both non-smokers and smokers. Measurements were performed on whole blood or on plasma samples before (T0) and after 4-weeks zeolites intake (T1). At T1, gluthatione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and gluthatione reductase increased compared to T0 levels, both considering all subjects as joint and after subdivision in non-smokers and smokers. Differently, a reduction in total antioxidant status was observed at T1. Anyway, total antioxidant status resulted higher than the reference values in both groups at each time point. A decrease in lipid peroxidation, a major indicator of oxidative stress assessed by monitoring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, was also observed in all subjects at T1. Our results suggested that chabazite/phillipsite/analcime may help to counteract oxidative stress in apparently healthy subjects exposed to different oxidative stress risk factors, such as smoking, thus representing a particular kind of food with potential antioxidant properties

Calibration and validation of an algorithm for remote sensing of turbidity over La Plata river estuary, Argentina

The La Plata River, located at 35°S on the Atlantic coast, is one of the largest waterways of South America. It carries a large amount of suspended particulate and dissolved organic matter, and is considered among the most turbid waters of the world. Very high values of total suspended matter have been reported in this region, with mean values ranging from 100 to 300 g m-3 and extreme concentrations up to 400 g m-3. Satellite sensors have shown to be the best tools available to map river plumes and to study their influence on the adjacent ocean. However, global algorithms for remotely estimating sediment concentration are not currently available. Moreover, such high sediment loads represent a challenge to atmospheric correction algorithms which usually rely on the assumption of zero water-leaving reflectance in the near infrared or short wave infrared part of the spectrum (black pixel assumption). In the extremely turbid waters of La Plata Estuary such assumptions are not valid. A two band algorithm to estimate turbidity using near infrared and the short wave infrared bands (858 nm and 1240 nm) of the MODIS-Aqua sensor is presented. The model is calibrated using in situ reflectance and turbidity measurements from turbid waters of the Southern North Sea and Scheldt River (Belgium) and then applied to MODIS imagery of La Plata River estuary (Argentina). A good correlation was found between modelled and in situ turbidity values when the algorithm was applied to concurrent MODIS imagery. Moreover, satellite-derived turbidity maps show a spatial distribution of sediment consistent with patterns and characteristic features of the estuary

Exploración de alternativas para el desarrollo sostenible de sistemas de producción hortícola-ganaderos familiares en el sur de Uruguay

La sostenibilidad de la mayoría de los predios hortícolas familiares en el sur de Uruguay está amenazada por ingresosinsuficientes y por el deterioro de los recursos naturales. En este estudio se cuantificó el efecto de la inclusión de diferentesactividades de producción ganadera en la estructura y en los resultados económico-productivos y ambientales de diferentestipos de sistemas de producción (predios) hortícolas. Se realizó un estudio exploratorio a escala predial con modelos desimulación utilizando dos predios como estudio de caso. Los resultados sugieren que la inclusión de actividades de producciónganadera en los sistemas de producción hortícolas es un factor determinante para reducir la erosión promedio del áreacultivada. Para reducir la erosión el modelo diseñó predios que reducen el área de hortalizas al tiempo que expanden larotación forrajera. Como consecuencia de esto, también se redujo el ingreso familiar (IF) entre 12 % y 31 % según el casoestudiado. Sin embargo, pudimos diseñar sistemas de producción con erosión menor a la tolerable para el tipo de suelo e IFmayor al objetivo, en los dos predios. De las actividades ganaderas evaluadas las más apropiadas para incluir en predios hortícolasson el engorde de novillos o vaquillonas en ciclos de 14 a 18 meses, debido al menor costo para reposición de animales y al menoruso de concentrados, lo que disminuye las necesidades de capital y la dependencia de insumos externos