Determinants in early life for asthma development

A reliable screening test in newborns for the subsequent development of bronchial asthma (BA) has not been found yet. This is mainly due to the complexity of BA, being made up by different types and underlying mechanisms. In different studies, a number of risk factors for BA have been identified. These include a positive family history of BA, passive smoking (also during pregnancy), prematurity (including pulmonary infections, RDS and BPD), early viral respiratory infections (such as RSV-bronchiolitis), male gender, early lung function abnormalities and atopic constitution. The major risk factor for persistent BA is an underlying allergic constitution. Therefore, early symptoms and markers of allergy (i.e. The Allergic March) and a positive family history for allergy should be considered as important risk factors for the development of BA

Actividad de ATP asa en corazón de cobayos de altura

Heart rnitochondrion ATPase activity, ADP:O ratio (P:O) and Respiratory Control (RCR) are compared between guinea pigs from high altitude (Morococha, 4540 m) (HA) and those from sea level (SL). The study comprised 60 male guinea pigs, 30 from each altitude level, with mean weight 400-450 grams. Heart mitochondria were obtained by differential centrifugation at 4°C. P:O ratio and RCR were measured polarographically by Tyler method, and ATP hydrolysis was done by Holton et al. Method. Mean values obtained for heart mitochondria at SL and HA, expressed in mmoles oxygen uptake/mg protein/hour, were, with Glutamate + Malate as subtrates, respectiveIy: P:O 2.90, RCR 6.02 and P:O 2.93, RCR 6.0; and, with Pyruvate + Malate as subtrates, respectively P:O 2.60, RCR 5.0 and P:O 2.70, RCR 4.80. ATPase activity was at SL and HA, respectively: 57.50 and 64.50 mmoles P /mg protein/hour. The results suggest that high altitude guinea pigs may have developed the ability to perform oxydative phosphorylation more efficiently, and that the slight increment observed in ATPase activity indicates that some adjustments are made to maintain the equilibrium within the mitochondrial environment.Se compara la actividad de ATPasa, la relación ADP:O (P:O) y el Control Respiratorio (RCR) en mitocondria de corazón entre cobayos de altura (Morococha, 4540 m.s.n.m.) (Alt) y cobayos del nivel del mar (Lima, 150 m,s.n.m.) (NM). El estudio se realizó en 60 cobayos machos, 30 en cada nivel de altitud, con un peso promedio de 400 a 450 gramos. Las mitocondrias de corazón fueron obtenidas por centrifugación diferencial a 4° C. La relación P:O y el RCR fueron medidos polarográficamente por el método de Tyler, y la hidrólisis del ATP se realizó por el método de Holton et al. Los valores medios obtenidos en mitocondrias de corazón al NM y en Alt, expresados en micromoles de oxígeno consumido / mg de proteína/hora, fueron: con Glutamato + Malato como sustratos, respectivamente: P:O 2.90, RCR 6.02 y P:O 2.93, RCR 6.0; y con Piruvato + Malato como sustratos, respectivamente: P:O 2.60, RCR 5.0 y P:O 2.70, RCR 4.80. La actividad ATPasa fue al NM y en Alt, respectivamente: 57.50 y 64.50 mmoles de P /mg proteína/hora. Los resultados sugieren que los cobayos de altura han desarrollado la habilidad de realizar la fosforilación oxidativa en forma más eficiente, y el ligero incremento observado en la actividad de ATPasa indica que tal vez se realizan pequeños ajustes para mantener el equilibrio dentro del medio ambiente mitocondrial

Actividad antiestafilocóccica y antibiopelícula de los extractos de Juglans netropica DIELS, Piper lineatum RUIZ&PAV. Y Terminalia catappa L.

In this study, was investigated the antistaphylococcal activity in vitro of ethanol and hydroalcoholic extracts of 3 peruvian medicinal plants: Juglans neotropica Diels (bark), Piper lineatum Ruiz & Pav. (leaves) and Terminalia catappa L. (leaves). The species were collected in the regions of Amazonas and Cajamarca, in Peru. Antistaphylococcal activity was assessed by microdilution method. The organisms used were bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228. All extracts investigated showed significant activity against both bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 125 to 500 μg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, with increased activity of the ethanol extract of Juglans neotropica Diels, and of 250 to 500 μg/mL for Staphylococcus epidermidis, having greater activity the hydroalcoholic extract of Piper lineatum Ruiz & Pav. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of terpene compounds, flavonoids and alkaloids on 6 extracts studied. The determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Biofilm (MICB) was performed by the plate microdilution method modified, using clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm producing. Only hydroalcoholic and ethanolic extracts of leaves of Piper lineatum L. have significant activity with CMIB 500 μg/mL for both strains. The ethanol and hydroalcoholic extracts of Piper lineatum L may be good candidates to search of metabolites useful to combat biofilm-associated infections by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis.En este estudio, se investigó la actividad antiestafilocóccica in-vitro de los extractos etanólicos e hidroalcohólicos de 3 plantas medicinales peruanas: Juglans neotropica Diels (corteza), Piper lineatum Ruiz & Pav. (hojas) y Terminalia catappa L. (hojas); recolectadas en las regiones de Amazonas y Cajamarca, en el Perú. La actividad antiestafilocóccica se evaluó mediante el método de microdilución. Los microorganismos utilizados fueron las bacterias Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 y Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228. Los extractos investigados presentaron actividad significativa frente a ambas bacterias, con una Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria (CMI) de 125 a 500 μg/mL para Staphylococcus aureus, teniendo mayor actividad el extracto etanólico de Juglans neotropica Diels, y de 250 a 500 μg/mL para Staphylococcus epidermidis, teniendo mayor actividad el extracto hidroalcohólico de Piper lineatum Ruiz & Pav. El análisis fitoquímico confirmó la presencia de compuestos terpénicos, flavonoides y alcaloides en los 6 extractos estudiados. La determinación de la Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria de Biopelícula (CMIB) se efectuó por el método de microdilución en placa modificado, utilizando cepas clínicas de Staphylococcus aureus y Staphylococcus epidermidis productoras de biopelícula. Solamente los extractos etanólicos e hidroalcohólicos de las hojas de Piper lineatum L. poseen actividad significativa con CMIB de 500 μg/mL para ambas cepas. Los extractos etanólicos e hidroalcohólicos de Piper lineatum L. pueden ser buenos candidatos para la búsqueda de metabolitos que sirvan para combatir infecciones asociadas a biopelículas de Staphylococcus aureus y Staphylococcus epidermidis