Fitorremediación de suelo contaminado con arsénico, cobre y plomo empleando Echeveria elegans y Crassula ovata

Se realizó la evaluación del proceso de fitorremediación (fitoextracción) en un suelo contaminado con As, Cu y Pb, proveniente de una industria del sector metal mecánico, mediante el uso de 2 especies vegetales: Echeveria (Echeveria elegans) y Árbol de jade (Crassula ovata). El objeto de estudio fue determinar los factores de bioconcentración (FBC) de As, Cu y Pb y los factores de translocación (FT) de las especies vegetales. Las concentraciones de metales iniciales fueron: 2471.40 mg/kg de As, 3847.15 mg/kg de Cu, y 20,690.14 mg/kg de Pb, las cuales sobrepasan los límites máximos permisibles de la NOM-147-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2004. La concentración de metales después de 3 meses para Echeveria fue: 1655.06 mg/kg de As, 2029.50 mg/kg de Cu, 10,410.27 mg/kg de Pb. Asimismo, para Árbol de jade fue: 2120.84 mg/kg de As, 2958.59 mg/kg de Cu, 10,811.71 mg/kg de Pb. Los FBC y FT determinados para cada especie vegetal fueron menor a 1, por lo que se consideran tolerantes.We assessed the phytoremediation process (phytoextraction) in a soil contaminated with As, Cu and Pb, which is from an industry of the mechanical metal sector, through 2 plant species: Echeveria (Echeveria elegans) and Jade plant (Crassula ovata). We aimed to determine Bioconcentration Factors (BCF) of As, Cu and Pb and the Translocation Factors (TF) of these species. The initial metal concentrations were: 2471.40 mg/kg As, 3847.15 mg/kg Cu, and 20,690.14 mg/kg Pb, which exceed the maximum permissible limits of Mexican normativity NOM-147-SEMARNAT/SSA1-2004. After 3 months, we found metal concentration in Echeveria, which were: 1655.06 mg/kg As, 2029.50 mg/kg Cu, 10,410.27 mg/kg Pb. Also, we found metal in the Jade plant, which were: 2120.84 mg/kg As, 2958.59 mg/kg Cu, 10,811.71 mg/kg Pb. The BCF and FT determined for each plant specie were less than 1, so they are considered tolerant

Isolation and adaptation of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria from Tenebrio molitor gut

En este trabajo, el objetivo fue aislar e inducir a la adaptación bacterias hidrocarbonoclastas, del intestino del Tenebrio molitor, para usar diésel como fuente de carbono. Para monitorear la resistencia de las larvas a los hidrocarburos, las larvas en grupos de diez fueron sometidas a cuatro concentraciones de diésel, donde la más alta fue de 20000 mg/kg, la prueba duró 30 días y el diésel no afectó el crecimiento de las larvas. La mayoría de las larvas (38) utilizadas en la prueba evolucionaron a pupas y luego a escarabajos produciendo la segunda generación de larvas, de las cuales algunas fueron diseccionadas, para aislar las bacterias hidrocarbonoclastas que podrían existir en sus intestinos. Utilizando el extracto líquido del intestino de las larvas y un medio selectivo (carbón combinado) se preparó un caldo que tenía una concentración de diésel de 1210. mg/L. Después de un período de 12 días, había 1.87x10⁹ UFC /mL.In this work, we aimed to isolate and induce the adapt of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria, from Tenebrio molitor gut, to use Diesel as carbon source. In order to monitor the resistance of the larvae to hydrocarbon, the specimens in groups of ten were grown in matrices subjected to four Diesel concentrations, the highest was 20000 mg/kg, the test lasted 30 days and Diesel did not affect the larvae growth. Most larvae (38) used in the test evolved into pupae and then into beetles producing the second generation of larvae, some of those were dissected to isolate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria that could exist in their gut. We used the liquid extract from larvae gut and a selective medium (Combined carbon) to make a broth which had Diesel concentration of 1210.37 mg/L. After a period of 12 days there were 1.87x10⁹ CFU/mL

Circulating MicroRNAs as Biomarkers in Biliary Tract Cancers

Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a group of highly aggressive malignant tumors with a poor prognosis. The current diagnosis is based mainly on imaging and intraoperative exploration due to brush cytology havinga low sensitivity and the standard markers, such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate 19-9 (CA19-9), not having enough sensitivity nor specificity to be used in a differential diagnosis and early stage detection. Thus, better non-invasive methods that can distinguish between normal and pathological tissue are needed. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules of ~20–22 nucleotides that regulate relevant physiological mechanisms and can also be involved in carcinogenesis. Recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are detectable in multiple body fluids, showing great stability, either free or trapped in circulating microvesicles, such as exosomes. miRNAs are ideal biomarkers that may be used in screening and prognosis in biliary tract cancers, aiding also in the clinical decisions at different stages of cancer treatment. This review highlights the progress in the analysis of circulating miRNAs in serum, plasma and bile as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers of BTCs

The Influence of Ethnicity on Warfarin Dosage Requirements in the Chilean Population

Background: Vitamin K antagonists are drugs that are widely prescribed around the world and their use has helped improve the prognosis of patients with thromboembolic disease. However, a high interindividual variability has been observed in dosage requirements to reach the desired anticoagulation range that could be due to environmental and genetic factors. Studies suggest that ethnicity influences coumarin response, supporting the observed differences in dose requirements across various populations. Studies using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers have suggested that the Chilean population has a predominantly Amerindian genetic pool. Objective: To evaluate the influence of ethnicity, defined by the presence of Amerindian mtDNA haplogroups, on the variability in therapeutic response to warfarin in the Chilean population. Methods: A total of 191 patients treated with warfarin were included in this study. Analysis of the mitochondrial genome for detecting the presence of Amerindian mtDNA haplogroups was performed using polymerase chain reaction and polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. The evaluation of warfarin requirements according to each haplogroup was performed by ANOVA with a 95% CI and assuming statistical significance at P < 0.05. Results: Based on the presence of an mtDNA haplogroup, 91% of the Chilean population had an Amerindian background. There were no significant differences in warfarin dosage requirements among the different Amerindian haplogroups (P = 0.083). Conclusions: The presence of Amerindian mtDNA haplogroup does not influence warfarin dosage requirements in the Chilean population

Obesity as a Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients: Epidemiology and Potential Mechanisms

SARS-CoV-2 infection is a global public health problem, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Evidence shows that obesity is a recognized risk factor for hospitalization, admission to critical care units, and the development of serious complications from COVID-19. This review analyzes the available epidemiological evidence that relates obesity to a higher risk of severity and mortality from COVID-19, examining the possible pathophysiological mechanisms that explain this phenomenon on a cellular and molecular level

Obesity Is Associated with Changes in Laboratory Biomarkers in Chilean Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

Background and aims: It is reported that patients with obesity are more frequently hospitalized for COVID-19, and evidence exists that obesity is a risk factor, regardless of other comorbidities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of obesity with changes in laboratory biomarkers in hospitalized Chilean patients. Materials and methods: A total of 202 hospitalized patients (71 with obesity and 131 without obesity) with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory (days 1, 3, 7, 15) data were obtained. We performed a statistical analysis, assuming significance with a value of p &lt; 0.05. Results: Significant differences in chronic respiratory pathology are observed between patients with and without obesity. The inflammatory markers CPR, ferritin, NLR, and PLR are elevated during the evaluated period, while changes in leukocyte populations are present on day 1 (eosinophils) and day 3 (lymphocytes). Finally, a persistent elevation of D-dimer level is observed, presenting significant differences on day 7 between patients with and without obesity. Obesity had a positive correlation with admission to the critical patient unit, invasive mechanical ventilation, and length of hospital stay. Conclusion: Patients with obesity hospitalized for COVID-19 present marked elevations of inflammatory and hemostasis parameters, with a correlation between obesity, changes in laboratory biomarkers, and the risk of adverse clinical outcomes also observed

Association of polymorphisms within the Renin-Angiotensin System with metabolic syndrome in a cohort of Chilean subjects

ABSTRACT Objective Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia. Thus, genetic variants related with these conditions may modulate its development. We evaluated the effect of polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on metabolic syndrome risk in a cohort of Chilean subjects. Subjects and methods A total of 152 subjects, 83 with MetS (51.2 ± 9.6 years) and 69 without MetS (49.5 ± 9.3 years) of both genders were included, according to the ATP III update criteria. The rs4340 Insertion/Deletion (I/D), rs699 (T>C) and rs5186 (A>C) of the ACE, AGT and AGTR1 genes, respectively, were genotyped. Results After adjusting for age and gender, we observed the DD genotype of rs4340 associated with MetS (p = 0.02). Specifically, the DD genotype was associated with MetS risk in women (OR = 4.62, 95%CI, 1.41 – 15.04; p < 0.01). In males, the AA genotype for rs5186 variant was associated with an increased risk for developing MetS when compared with women carrying the same genotype (OR = 3.2; 95%CI, 1.03 – 9.89; p = 0.04). In subjects without MetS, DD genotype was associated with increased waist circumference (p = 0.023) while subjects with MetS carrying the rs5186 TT genotype showed higher levels of HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.031). Conclusion The present study contributes data highlighting the role for RAS polymorphisms in predisposing to metabolic syndrome in Chilean subjects