Vascular flora and vegetation from Puerto Viejo wetland

El presente trabajo corresponde al primer reporte de flora vascular para el Humedal de Puerto Viejo, Cañete, Lima. Para esta localidad fueron registrados entre marzo del 2003 y julio del 2009, un total de 32 especies de plantas vasculares, agrupadas en 28 géneros y 15 familias. Las Magnoliópsida fueron el grupo dominante con 20 de los taxones. Del total de especies registradas el 34% (11 taxones) corresponden a especies consideradas introducidas.The present paper is the first list of vascular flora from the Puerto Viejo wetland, Cañete, Lima. A total of 32 species of vascular plants, grouped in 28 genera and 15 families were registered between March 2003 and July 2009. The Magnoliopsidae (Dicotyledoneae) was the dominant group with 20 taxa. The 34% of the taxa (11 species) are considered as introduced species

EFECTO PROMOTOR DE BACTERIAS PGPR SOBRE CULTIVO DE PAPA BAJO DIFERENTES SUSTRATOS A NIVEL DE INVERNADERO

Se evaluó el efecto promotor de tres géneros de bacterias PGPR (bacterias promotoras de crecimiento de plantas), Actinomicetos, Bacillusy Pseudomonas sobre el crecimiento del cultivo de Solanum tuberosum “papa” en sustratos con diferentes proporciones de arena, musgo y tierra de cultivo. Se realizó un ensayo a nivel de invernadero, con seis repeticiones por cada tratamiento y un tratamiento control. El ensayo tuvo una duración de tres meses. Se evaluó el crecimiento poblacional y los parámetros de crecimiento de la planta. Se hizo un análisis de varianza (ANOVA) y comparación de medias con la prueba de Tukey (

Human Placenta-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: A Review from Basic Research to Clinical Applications

Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (PMSC) present several aspects that make them more attractive as cellular therapy than their counterparts from other tissues, such as MSC from bone marrow or adipose tissue in regenerative medicine. Placenta-derived MSC have been used to treat a variety of disorders, such as, cancer, liver and cardiac diseases, ulcers, bone repair, and neurological diseases. Placenta-derived MSC are relatively new types of MSC with specific immunomodulatory properties and whose mechanisms are still unknown. Placenta-derived MSC secrete some soluble factors that seem to be responsible for their therapeutic effects, i.e., they have paracrine effects. On the other hand, Placenta-derived MSC can also serve as cellular vehicles and/or delivery systems for medications due to their migration capacity and their tropism for injury sites. Nanotechnology is an important field, which has undergone rapid development in recent years for the treatment of injured organs. Due to the special characteristics of placenta-derived MSC, the combination of these cells with nanotechnology will be a significant and highly promising field that will provide significant contributions in the regenerative medicine field in the near future

Aristida asplundii (Poaceae: Aristidoideae) a new record for Peruvian flora

Reportamos por primera vez la presencia de Aristida asplundii Henrard (Poaceae, Aristidoideae) para Perú basada en colectas de la región Puno (sur del Perú). Incluimos una clave que permite diferenciar las especies de Aristida que habitan en Perú.We report for the first time the presence of Aristida asplundii Henrard (Poaceae, Aristidoideae) for Peru based on collections from the region of Puno (southern Peru). We include a key to recognize all species of Aristida that grow in Perú

Endostatin genetically engineered placental mesenchymal stromal cells carrying mesoporous silica nanoparticles for combined chemo- and antiangiogenic therapy

Combination therapies constitute a powerful tool for cancer treatment. By combining drugs with different mechanisms of action, the limitations of each individual agent can be overcome, while increasing therapeutic benefit. Here, we propose employing tumor-migrating decidua-derived mesenchymal stromal cells as therapeutic agents combining antiangiogenic therapy and chemotherapy. First, a plasmid encoding the antiangiogenic protein endostatin was transfected into these cells by nucleofection, confirming its expression by ELISA and its biological effect in an ex ovo chick embryo model. Second, doxorubicin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles were introduced into the cells, which would act as vehicles for the drug being released. The effect of the drug was evaluated in a coculture in vitro model with mammary cancer cells. Third, the combination of endostatin transfection and doxorubicin-nanoparticle loading was carried out with the decidua mesenchymal stromal cells. This final cell platform was shown to retain its tumor-migration capacity in vitro, and the combined in vitro therapeutic efficacy was confirmed through a 3D spheroid coculture model using both cancer and endothelial cells. The results presented here show great potential for the development of combination therapies based on genetically-engineered cells that can simultaneously act as cellular vehicles for drug-loaded nanoparticles

Decidua-derived mesenchymal stem cells as carriers of mesoporous silica nanoparticles. In vitro and in vivo evaluation on mammary tumors

The potential use of human Decidua-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) as a platform to carry mesoporous silica nanoparticles in cancer therapy has been investigated. Two types of nanoparticles were evaluated. The nanoparticles showed negligible toxicity to the cells, a fast uptake and a long retention inside them. Nanoparticle location in the cell was studied by colocalization with the lysosomes. Moreover, the in vitro and in vivo migration of DMSCs towards tumors was not modified by the evaluated nanoparticles. Finally, DMSCs transporting doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles were capable of inducing cancer cell death in vitro

Efecto del sistema de alojamiento y alimentación sobre el bienestar y la productividad en cerdas gestantes

Investigadores de la UAB realizaron un estudio sobre el efecto del sistema de alojamiento y alimentación sobre el bienestar animal

Vectorization of ultrasound-responsive nanoparticles in placental mesenchymal stem cells for cancer therapy

A new platform constituted by engineered responsive nanoparticles transported by human mesenchymal stem cells is here presented as a proof of concept. Ultrasound-responsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles are coated with polyethylenimine to favor their effective uptake by decidua-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The responsive-release ability of the designed nanoparticles is confirmed, both in vial and in vivo. In addition, this capability is maintained inside the cells used as carriers. The migration capacity of the nanoparticle-cell platform towards mammary tumors is assessed in vitro. The efficacy of this platform for anticancer therapy is shown against mammary tumor cells by inducing the release of doxorubicin only when the cell vehicles are exposed to ultrasound

Changes in the phenolic content of low density lipoprotein after olive oil consumption in men. A randomized crossover controlled trial

Olive oil decreases the risk of CVD. This effect may be due to the fatty acid profile of the oil, but it may also be due to its antioxidant content which differs depending on the type of olive oil. In this study, the concentrations of oleic acid and antioxidants (phenolic compounds and vitamin E) in plasma and LDL were compared after consumption of three similar olive oils, but with differences in their phenolic content. Thirty healthy volunteers participated in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover, randomized supplementation trial. Virgin, common, and refined olive oils were administered during three periods of 3 weeks separated by a 2-week washout period. Participants were requested to ingest a daily dose of 25 ml raw olive oil, distributed over the three meals of the day, during intervention periods. All three olive oils caused an increase in plasma and LDL oleic acid (P,0·05) content. Olive oils rich in phenolic compounds led to an increase in phenolic compounds in LDL (P, 0·005). The concentration of phenolic compounds in LDL was directly correlated with the phenolic concentration in the olive oils. The increase in the phenolic content of LDL could account for the increase of the resistance of LDL to oxidation, and the decrease of the in vivo oxidized LDL, observed in the frame of this trial. Our results support the hypothesis that a daily intake of virgin olive oil promotes protective LDL changes ahead of its oxidation. Olive oil: Oleic acid: Phenolic compounds: LDL: CVD risk CVD is the main cause of death and disability in developed countries 1 -3 . The type of fat consumed can modify the plasma and LDL lipid profile, which is directly related to the growth of atheroma plaque To date, few studies have analysed the effects of sustained olive oil consumption on human LDL composition. The few available data come from short-term studies Materials and methods Study population An in-person screening visit was conducted to ascertain eligibility and obtain baseline data. Forty-two subjects from a religious community were screened for inclusion. Nine of them were ineligible. Thus, thirty-three healthy volunteers, from 23 to 91 years old, with a regular lifestyle and dietary habits * Corresponding author: Dr M. Carmen López Sabater, fax þ 34-93 403 59 31, email [email protected] Abbreviations: CAE, caffeic acid equivalents; FAME, fatty acid methyl esters

Influence of Environmental Pollution and Living Conditions on Parasite Transmission among Indigenous Ecuadorians

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of environmental pollution and the living conditions of indigenous Ecuadorians on the transmission of enteroparasites in an Andean agricultural area located at high altitude. Environmental pollution was recorded after observation in each community. The parasites were identified by microscopic sediment analysis using physiological saline solution from macerated arthropods, washed vegetables, and human stools, utilizing four coproparasitological techniques (direct examination, Kato-Katz, ether concentration, and Ziehl-Neelsen). The results show that the inadequate disposal of human and animal excreta that contaminate soil and water, incorrect food hygiene, inadequate sanitary infrastructure in houses, a lack of animal veterinary care, and rodent proliferation are important reservoirs of zoonotic parasites. The use of excrement as fertilizer increases the number of flies, which act as mechanical vectors, and vegetables grown in areas with disperse infective parasitic forms act as vehicles that are marketed at the local, regional, and international levels. These analyses verify contamination levels of 52.7% in mechanical vectors, 70.6% in vegetables, and 98.2% in human stools. The agricultural communities analyzed maintained poor hygienic-sanitary and environmental conditions, which had a significant influence on the transmission of enteroparasites that affect human health