Anti-inflammatory, pro-proliferative and antimicrobial potential of the compounds isolated from Daemonorops draco (Willd.) Blume

Ethno-pharmacological relevance: Daemonorops draco (D. draco) commonly known as “Dragon's blood” is one of the most used plants by Momok, Anak Dalam and Talang Mamak tribes from Indonesia as a remedy for wound healing. Aim of the study: This study aimed to identify the extract, fractions and compounds responsible for the anti-inflammatory and pro-proliferative activities of the D. draco resin. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity against two bacteria and one yeast species was analysed. Materials and methods: Bio-guided isolation of compounds with anti-inflammatory, pro-proliferative and antimicrobial activities from the D. draco resin was carried out by measuring: the inhibition of NF-κB and activation of Nrf2 in THP-1, HaCaT, NIH-3T3 cells; cell proliferation in NIH-3T3 and HaCaT cells; and the antimicrobial effect on E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans. Results: Guided isolation by bioassay gave rise to the isolation and characterisation by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry of three compounds: 1 (Bexarotene), 2 (Taspine) and 3 (2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone). All compounds showed NF-κB inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 0.10–0.13, 0.22–0.24 and 3.75–4.78 μM, respectively, while the positive control, Celastrol, had an IC50 of 7.96 μM. Likewise, all compounds showed an activating effect of Nrf2 with EC50 values of 5.34–5.43, 163.20–169.20 and 300.82–315.56 nM, respectively, while the positive control, CDDO-Me, had an EC50 of 0.11 nM. In addition, concerning the pro-proliferative activity, compound 1 (IC50 = 8.62–8.71 nM) showed a capacity of 100%, compound 2 (IC50 = 166–171 nM) showed a capacity of 75%, and compound 3 (IC50 = 469–486 nM) showed a capacity of 65%, while FSB 10% (positive control) had a pro-proliferative activity of 100% in the NIH3T3 cell lines (fibroblasts) and HaCaT (keratinocytes). Finally, all the compounds showed antimicrobial activity with MIC values of 0.12–0.16, 0.31–0.39 and 3.96–3.99 μM, respectively, in S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans strains, while the positive control, Ofloxacin, had a MIC of 27.65 μM. Conclusion: This study managed to isolate, for the first time, three compounds (Bexarotene, Taspine and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone) from the resin of D. draco, with anti-inflammatory, and pro-proliferative as well as antimicrobial activitie

The nurse’s role in educating pediatric patients on correct inhaler technique: an interventional study

The prevalence of pediatric respiratory diseases in Spain is 23%. Inhalation is the preferred route of administration but there are frequent errors in the performance of the inhalation technique leading a poor control of the disease. The aim of this research was to detect errors in the execution of the inhalation technique at a Pediatric Pulmonology Unit in a hospital of Aragón (Spain). In order to improve the administration of inhaled medication, an educational intervention for 1 year by nursing was conducted. This interventional study, including children aged 1 to 15 years with an inhalation therapy and who attended the Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, was conducted between September 2017 and September 2018. Logistic Regression models were conducted in SPSS. This study involved 393 children (61.1% boys). Before the intervention, 39.4% achieved a correct inhalation technique increasing up to 62.1% after the intervention. Those who had their first visit to the Unit, young children and girls had a higher risk of incorrect performance than those with subsequent visits, older children, and boys, respectively. The most common errors in the inhalation technique were not performing adequate apnoea after inhaling and not rinsing the mouth at the end of the procedure. The education given by nurses to pediatric patients improved the inhalation technique, achieving better control of the disease and use of the health system. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Optical and near-infrared spectroscopy of the black hole transient 4U 1543-47 during its 2021 ultra-luminous state

We present simultaneous optical and near-infrared spectra obtained during the 2021 outburst of the black hole transient 4U 1543-47. The X-ray hardness-intensity diagram and the comparison with similar systems reveal a luminous outburst, probably reaching the Eddington luminosity, as well as a long-lasting excursion to the so-called ultra-luminous state. VLT/X-shooter spectra were taken in two epochs 14 days apart during the early and brightest part of the outburst, while the source was in this ultra-luminous accretion state. The data show strong H and HeI emission lines, as well as high-excitation HeII and OIII transitions. Most lines are single-peaked in both spectra, except for the OIII lines that exhibit evident double-peaked profiles during the second epoch. The Balmer lines are embedded in broad absorption wings that we believe are mainly produced by the contribution of the A2V donor to the optical flux, which we estimate to be in the range of 11 to 14 per cent in the $r$ band during our observations. Although no conspicuous outflow features are found, we observe some wind-related line profiles, particularly in the near-infrared. Such lines include broad emission line wings and skewed red profiles, suggesting the presence of a cold (i.e. low ionisation) outflow with similar observational properties to those found in other low-inclination black hole transients.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

Discovery of optical outflows and inflows in the black hole candidate GRS 1716-249

We present optical spectroscopy obtained with the GTC, VLT and SALT telescopes during the decline of the 2016-2017 outburst of the black hole candidate GRS 1716-249 (Nova Oph 1993). Our 18-epoch data set spans 6 months and reveals that the observational properties of the main emission lines are very variable, even on time scales of a few hours. Several epochs are characterised by P-Cyg (as well as flat-top and asymmetric) profiles in the H$\alpha$, H$\beta$ and He II ($\lambda$4686) emission lines, implying the presence of an accretion disc wind, which is likely hot and dense. The wind's terminal velocity ($\sim$2000 km s$^{-1}$) is similar to that observed in other black hole X-ray transients. These lines also show transient and sharp red-shifted absorptions, taking the form of inverted P-Cyg profiles. We argue that these profiles can be explained by the presence of infalling material at $\sim$1300 km s$^{-1}$. We propose a failed wind scenario to explain this inflow and discuss other alternatives, such as obscuration produced by an accretion-related structure (e.g. the gas stream) in a high inclination system.Comment: Published in MNRAS main journa

The dynamical mass of the white dwarf in XY Ari questions intermediate polar X-ray spectral models

We present a dynamical study of the eclipsing intermediate polar XY Ari based on time-resolved near-infrared spectroscopy obtained with the EMIR spectrograph on the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias. Using main sequence template spectra taken with the same instrument setup as the target spectra, we measure a radial velocity amplitude of the late K-type donor star $K_2=256 \pm 2$ km s$^{-1}$. We also obtain the rotational broadening of its photospheric lines $v_\mathrm{rot} \sin i = 141 \pm 3$ km s$^{-1}$. From these and the eclipse geometry, we derive a donor-to-white dwarf mass ratio $q = M_2/M_1 = 0.62 \pm 0.02$, an orbital inclination $i = 80.8^{\circ} \pm 0.5^{\circ}$ and dynamical masses $M_{1} = 1.21 \pm 0.04 \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ and $M_2 = 0.75 \pm 0.04 \, \mathrm{M}_{\odot}$ ($1 \sigma$). This result places the white dwarf in XY Ari as one of the three most massive known in a cataclysmic variable. Comparison with a number of white dwarf mass estimates from X-ray spectral modelling indicates the necessity of a major revision of the cooling models currently assumed for magnetic accretion in intermediate polars, as most of the X-ray white dwarf masses lie significantly below the dynamical mass value.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables, submitted for publication in MNRA

Gender differences in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia severity

Background: Gender differences in organ involvement and clinical severity have been poorly described in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The aim of this study was to describe differences in the severity of HHT manifestations according to gender. Methods: Severity was measured according to Epistaxis Severity Score (ESS), Simple Clinical Scoring Index for hepatic involvement, a general HHT-score, needing for invasive treatment (pulmonary or brain arteriovenous malformations -AVMs- embolization, liver transplantation or Young's surgery) or the presence of adverse outcomes (severe anemia, emergency department -ED- or hospital admissions and mortality). Results: One hundred forty-two (58.7%) women and 100 (41.3%) men were included with a mean age of 48.9 ± 16.6 and 49 ± 16.5 years, respectively. Women presented hepatic manifestations (7.1% vs 0%) and hepatic involvement (59.8% vs 47%), hepatic AVMs (28.2% vs 13%) and bile duct dilatation (4.9% vs 0%) at abdominal CT, and pulmonary AVMs at thoracic CT (35.2% vs 23%) more often than men. The Simple Clinical Scoring Index was higher in women (3.38 ± 1.2 vs 2.03 ± 1.2), and more men were considered at low risk of harboring clinically significant liver disease than women (61% vs 25.3%). These differences were mantained when considering HHT1 and HHT2 patients separetely. Duodenal telangiectasia were more frequent in men than women (21% vs 9.8%). Invasive treatments were more frequently needed in women (28.2% vs 16%) but men needed attention at the ED more often than women (48% vs 28.2%), with no differences in ESS, HHT-score, anemia hospital admissions or mortality. Conclusions: HHT women showed more severe hepatic involvement than men, also among HHT1 and HHT2 patients. Women had higher prevalence of pulmonary AVMs and needed invasive procedures more frequently, while men needed attention at the ED more often. These data might help physicians to individualize HHT patients follow-up

Utility of a thematic network in primary health care: a controlled interventional study in a rural area

BACKGROUND: UniNet is an Internet-based thematic network for a virtual community of users (VCU). It supports a virtual multidisciplinary community for physicians, focused on the improvement of clinical practice. This is a study of the effects of a thematic network such as UniNet on primary care medicine in a rural area, specifically as a platform of communication between specialists at the hospital and doctors in the rural area. METHODS: In order to study the effects of a thematic network such as UniNet on primary care medicine in a rural area, we designed an interventional study that included a control group. The measurements included the number of patient displacements due to disease, number of patient hospital stays and the number of prescriptions of drugs of low therapeutic utility and generic drug prescriptions by doctors. These data were analysed and compared with those of the control center. RESULTS: Our study showed positive changes in medical practice, reflected in the improvement of the evaluated parameters in the rural health area where the interventional study was carried out, compared with the control area. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of UniNet as a potential medium to improve the quality of medical care in rural areas. CONCLUSION: The rural doctors had an effective, useful, user-friendly and cheap source of medical information that may have contributed to the improvement observed in the medical quality indices