Application of the Nanofiltration Process for Concentration of Polyphenolic Compounds from Geranium robertianum and Salvia officinalis Extracts

The aim of this study was to prove the efficiency of the nanofiltration process for the concentration of polyphenolic compounds from Geranium robertianum and Salvia officinalis extracts and to evaluate the extract’s antioxidant activity. A lab-scale cross-flow set-up using flat-sheet configuration membrane was employed for all experiments. Two nanofiltration membranes have been used: SelRO MPF-36 (Koch membrane) and an organic-inorganic membrane (polysulfone with SBA-15-NH2). When the organic-inorganic membranes were used in the nanofiltration process, the obtained concentrated extracts proved to have higher polyphenol and flavonoid rejections, in both cases (Geranium robertianum and Salvia officinalis). The obtained values were over 88 % DPPH inhibition, for concentrated extracts, using the DPPH method. The concentrated extracts obtained after nanofiltration NF2 (organic-inorganic membrane) had the strongest scavenging activity for all extracts and almost completely inhibited DPPH absorption (92.9 % for Geranium robertianum concentrated extract and 90.1 % for Salvia officinalis concentrated extract). These features turn the studied, concentrated extracts into a good source for further medicinal applications

Dielectric selective mirror for intracavity wavelength selection in far-infrared p-Ge lasers

A robust metal-free intracavity fixed-wavelength selector for the cryogenically cooled far-infrared p-Ge laser is demonstrated. The device is a back mirror consisting of a thin silicon etalon and dielectric SrTiO3 flat. A laser line width of 0.2 cm-1 is achieved, which corresponds to an active cavity finesse of similar to0.15. The wavelength position and spectral purity are maintained over a wide range of laser operating fields. Use of SrTiO3 lowers the laser resonance line frequencies by similar to1 cm-1 compared with expectations for metal mirrors. The effect is due to phase shift, which is determined from far-infrared reflectivity measurements of SrTiO3. A p-Ge laser with such selector is free from danger of electrical breakdown and mirror oxidation during repeatable thermal cycling, which makes it more reliable than previous selection schemes for practical applications

Estudio Socioeconómico Del Municipio De Pueblo viejo

El Municipio de Pueblo viejo se encuentra localizado en el sector Noroccidental del Departamento del Magdalena, dentro de la región fisiográfica del Delta Exterior del Río Magdalena, a 11°00' de latitud Norte y a 74°17' de longitud Oeste de Greenwich, con una extensión total de 49.700 Ha. Goza de inmejorables condiciones de ubicación para alcanzar un Óptimo desarrollo en todas las actividades que en él se realizan cuáles son fundamentalmente: la pesca, la ganadería y la agricultura, pero a pesar de esto, es decir, del Mar Caribe, la Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, los fértiles suelos, disposición de la mejor riqueza hídrica del Departamento, buen clima, regular precipitación y gran extensión, su desarrollo en el campo se encuentra entrabado. Muchas riquezas naturales se han destruido. La Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta se encuentra en perfecto progresivo de contaminación debido al uso irracional de los pesticidas agrícolas, característica del individualismo capitalista. El sector pesquero a pesar de la extensión del mar y de la Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta y de su riqueza marina, coma los sectores anteriores, se encuentra sometido también al marco del atraso. Todos los métodos e instrumentos de pesca son rudimentarios, la explotación tecnificada y el procesamiento de los productos se lleva a cabo para empresas de capital mixto, los habitantes del municipio a pesar de las riquezas de es te, no disponen de los mínimos servicios que le garanticen adecuadas condiciones para su salud. En cuanto a educación se refiere, a pesar de las características del municipio de que la mayoría de sus habitantes son jóvenes, son pocas las escuelas y colegios que existen y los que están se encuentran en muy malas condiciones. En resumen, el municipio es rico por naturaleza, pero se encuentra empobrecido por el poder de la burguesía, terratenientes y la dominación extranjera que padece nuestro país

Interaction of classical swine fever virus with dendritic cells

Functional disruption of dendritic cells (DCs) is an important strategy for viral pathogens to evade host defences. Monocytotropic viruses such as classical swine fever virus (CSFV) could employ such a mechanism, since the virus can suppress immune responses and induce apoptosis without infecting lymphocytes. Here, CSFV was shown to infect and efficiently replicate in monocyte- and in bone marrow-derived DCs. Interestingly, the infected DCs displayed neither modulated MHC nor CD80/86 expression. Stimulation of DCs with IFN-/TNF- or polyinosinic¿polycytidylic acid (pIC) induced phenotypic maturation with increased MHC and CD80/86 expression, both with mock-treated and infected DCs. In addition, the T cell stimulatory capacity of CSFV-infected DCs was maintained both in a polyclonal T cell stimulation and in specific antigen-presentation assays, requiring antigen uptake and processing. Interestingly, similar to macrophages, CSFV did not induce IFN- responses in these DCs and even suppressed pIC-induced IFN- induction. Other cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF- were not modulated. Taken together, these results demonstrated that CSFV can replicate in DCs and control IFN type I responses, without interfering with the immune reactivity. These results are interesting considering that DC infection with RNA viruses usually results in DC activation

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome in 41 adults: the illness, the patients, and problems of management

BACKGROUND: Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is a disorder characterized by recurrent, stereotypic episodes of incapacitating nausea, vomiting and other symptoms, separated by intervals of comparative wellness. This report describes the clinical features, co-morbidities and problems encountered in management of 41 adult patients who met the diagnostic criteria for CVS. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of adults with CVS seen between 1994 and 2003. Follow-up data were obtained by mailed questionnaires. RESULTS: Age of onset ranged from 2 to 49 years. The duration of CVS at the time of consultation ranged from less than 1 year to 49 years. CVS episodes were stereotypic in respect of their hours of onset, symptomatology and length. Ninety-three percent of patients had recognizable prodromes. Half of the patients experienced a constellation of symptoms consisting of CVS episodes, migraine diathesis, inter-episodic dyspeptic nausea and a history of panic attacks. Deterioration in the course of CVS is indicated by coalescence of episodes in time. The prognosis of CVS is favorable in the majority of patients. CONCLUSION: CVS is a disabling disorder affecting adults as well as children. Because its occurrence in adults is little known, patients experience delayed or mis-diagnosis and ineffectual, sometimes inappropriately invasive management

5 Biosensors Applications on Assessment of Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidants

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