APPLICATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM TWO SPECIES OF THE RUTACEAE FAMILY AS CELLULAR OXIDATION CONTROLLER AGENT AND TRYPANOCIDAL CAPACITY

AbstractThe essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from peel of Citrus aurantium and Swinglea glutinosa, collected from Ibagué-Province of Tolima-Colombia (South America), was analyzed by GC/MS. The major compounds identified in essential oil of S. glutinosa were germacrene-D (30.8%), β-pinene (22.6%) and sabinene (11.6%), while limonene (94.4%)was identified as the most abundant component in C. aurantium.The ability of these products and mixturesto control cellular oxidation and measure theiranti-epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi activity, the protozoan Chagas transmitter,were investigated.Besides, the type ofdrug interactionbetweenessential oil mixtureswas determinedby the values ofcombination index, which indicated for all cases the existence of a strong antagonism between the mixtures prepared.According to ABTS assay, β-carotene bleaching test andprotective activityagainst erythrocytes degradationshowed that volatiles compounds have a wide spectrum as cellular oxidation controller.This is the first time, that oils of S. glutinosa and C. aurantium, have high activity against T. cruzi, in vitro; capacity that could be directly associated to the chemotype of they, one of which (Swinglea glutinosa) appears not to be found in other research.  KeywordsEssential oil composition, Citrusaurantium, Swingleaglutinosa, ABTS, Rutaceae.Â

Effects of alirocumab on types of myocardial infarction: insights from the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial

Aims  The third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction (MI) Task Force classified MIs into five types: Type 1, spontaneous; Type 2, related to oxygen supply/demand imbalance; Type 3, fatal without ascertainment of cardiac biomarkers; Type 4, related to percutaneous coronary intervention; and Type 5, related to coronary artery bypass surgery. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction with statins and proprotein convertase subtilisin–kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors reduces risk of MI, but less is known about effects on types of MI. ODYSSEY OUTCOMES compared the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab with placebo in 18 924 patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and elevated LDL-C (≥1.8 mmol/L) despite intensive statin therapy. In a pre-specified analysis, we assessed the effects of alirocumab on types of MI. Methods and results  Median follow-up was 2.8 years. Myocardial infarction types were prospectively adjudicated and classified. Of 1860 total MIs, 1223 (65.8%) were adjudicated as Type 1, 386 (20.8%) as Type 2, and 244 (13.1%) as Type 4. Few events were Type 3 (n = 2) or Type 5 (n = 5). Alirocumab reduced first MIs [hazard ratio (HR) 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–0.95; P = 0.003], with reductions in both Type 1 (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99; P = 0.032) and Type 2 (0.77, 0.61–0.97; P = 0.025), but not Type 4 MI. Conclusion  After ACS, alirocumab added to intensive statin therapy favourably impacted on Type 1 and 2 MIs. The data indicate for the first time that a lipid-lowering therapy can attenuate the risk of Type 2 MI. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below levels achievable with statins is an effective preventive strategy for both MI types.For complete list of authors see http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehz299</p

Tendencias verdes en la agricultura para el manejo y control de plagas

It is called green revolution in agriculture that stage was characterized by the development of high yielding varieties, increased levels of productivity and improvement of various irrigation and water storage. These achievements are associated with extensive use of agrochemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides that eventually cause serious environmental and public health problem. Issues like these have led to reconsider the current paradigm of the use of synthetic pesticides oriented towards finding cleaner production based on the use of more sustainable strategies, based on the application of botanicals and other biological control agents. This alternative is based on aspects such as its low toxicity, greater structural diversity, come from renewable sources and short life in the environment, motivating the search for bioactive molecules from various natural sources; especially plants and development have forced biocontrol revisions and adjustments to the regulations on the use of pesticides. These strategies have taken an important role in organic production systems have been increasing their participation in traditional agricultural production systems. This motivated by increased demands for marketing agricultural products in international markets that put pressure for clean products competition and force the development of green products and their incorporation into programs integrated pest management worldwide and specially to the competitiveness for developing countriesSe conoce como revolución verde aquella etapa de la agricultura que se caracterizó por el desarrollo de variedades de alto rendimiento, incremento en los niveles de la productividad de diversos y el mejoramiento de sistemas de riego y almacenamiento de agua. Estos logros estuvieron asociados con el uso extensivo de químicos agrícolas como los fertilizantes y pesticidas que terminaron por ocasionar serios problemas ambientales y de salud pública. Los problemas mencionados han llevado a reconsiderar el paradigma actual del empleo de pesticidas de síntesis orientado hacia la búsqueda de una producción más limpia basada en el uso de estrategias más sostenibles como la aplicación de productos botánicos y agentes de control biológico. Esta alternativa se fundamenta en aspectos tales como baja toxicidad, alta diversidad estructural, baja persistencia y provenir de fuentes renovables. Motivando así la búsqueda de moléculas bioactivas de diversas fuentes naturales, en especial de plantas y el desarrollo de biocontroladores que han obligado a realizar revisiones y ajustes en la normatividad sobre el uso de pesticidas. Estas estrategias han cumplido un importante papel en los sistemas de producción orgánicos y vienen aumentando su participación en los sistemas de producción agrícolas tradicionales. Lo anterior, motivado por el incremento en las exigencias para la comercialización de productos agrícolas en los mercados internacionales, que presiona la competencia por productos limpios y demanda el desarrollo de productos verdes y su incorporación en los programas de manejo integrado de plagas a nivel mundial como estrategia para el fortalecimiento de la competitividad de los países en desarrollo

Effect of intravenous corticosteroids on death within 14 days in 10008 adults with clinically significant head injury (MRC CRASH trial): randomised placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids have been used to treat head injuries for more than 30 years. In 1997, findings of a systematic review suggested that these drugs reduce risk of death by 1-2%. The CRASH trial--a multicentre international collaboration--aimed to confirm or refute such an effect by recruiting 20000 patients. In May, 2004, the data monitoring committee disclosed the unmasked results to the steering committee, which stopped recruitment. METHODS: 10008 adults with head injury and a Glasgow coma score (GCS) of 14 or less within 8 h of injury were randomly allocated 48 h infusion of corticosteroids (methylprednisolone) or placebo. Primary outcomes were death within 2 weeks of injury and death or disability at 6 months. Prespecified subgroup analyses were based on injury severity (GCS) at randomisation and on time from injury to randomisation. Analysis was by intention to treat. Effects on outcomes within 2 weeks of randomisation are presented in this report. This study is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN74459797. FINDINGS: Compared with placebo, the risk of death from all causes within 2 weeks was higher in the group allocated corticosteroids (1052 [21.1%] vs 893 [17.9%] deaths; relative risk 1.18 [95% CI 1.09-1.27]; p=0.0001). The relative increase in deaths due to corticosteroids did not differ by injury severity (p=0.22) or time since injury (p=0.05). INTERPRETATION: Our results show there is no reduction in mortality with methylprednisolone in the 2 weeks after head injury. The cause of the rise in risk of death within 2 weeks is unclear

Alirocumab and cardiovascular outcomes after acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND Patients who have had an acute coronary syndrome are at high risk for recurrent ischemic cardiovascular events. We sought to determine whether alirocumab, a human monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9), would improve cardiovascular outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome in patients receiving high-intensity statin therapy. METHODS We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 18,924 patients who had an acute coronary syndrome 1 to 12 months earlier, had a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level of at least 70 mg per deciliter (1.8 mmol per liter), a non-highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol level of at least 100 mg per deciliter (2.6 mmol per liter), or an apolipoprotein B level of at least 80 mg per deciliter, and were receiving statin therapy at a high-intensity dose or at the maximum tolerated dose. Patients were randomly assigned to receive alirocumab subcutaneously at a dose of 75 mg (9462 patients) or matching placebo (9462 patients) every 2 weeks. The dose of alirocumab was adjusted under blinded conditions to target an LDL cholesterol level of 25 to 50 mg per deciliter (0.6 to 1.3 mmol per liter). The primary end point was a composite of death from coronary heart disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal or nonfatal ischemic stroke, or unstable angina requiring hospitalization. RESULTS The median duration of follow-up was 2.8 years. A composite primary end-point event occurred in 903 patients (9.5%) in the alirocumab group and in 1052 patients (11.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78 to 0.93; P<0.001). A total of 334 patients (3.5%) in the alirocumab group and 392 patients (4.1%) in the placebo group died (hazard ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.98). The absolute benefit of alirocumab with respect to the composite primary end point was greater among patients who had a baseline LDL cholesterol level of 100 mg or more per deciliter than among patients who had a lower baseline level. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups, with the exception of local injection-site reactions (3.8% in the alirocumab group vs. 2.1% in the placebo group). CONCLUSIONS Among patients who had a previous acute coronary syndrome and who were receiving highintensity statin therapy, the risk of recurrent ischemic cardiovascular events was lower among those who received alirocumab than among those who received placebo

Lipoprotein(a) and Benefit of PCSK9 Inhibition in Patients With Nominally Controlled LDL Cholesterol

Background: Guidelines recommend nonstatin lipid-lowering agents in patients at very high risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) if low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) remains ≥70 mg/dL on maximum tolerated statin treatment. It is uncertain if this approach benefits patients with LDL-C near 70 mg/dL. Lipoprotein(a) levels may influence residual risk. Objectives: In a post hoc analysis of the ODYSSEY Outcomes (Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab) trial, the authors evaluated the benefit of adding the proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab to optimized statin treatment in patients with LDL-C levels near 70 mg/dL. Effects were evaluated according to concurrent lipoprotein(a) levels. Methods: ODYSSEY Outcomes compared alirocumab with placebo in 18,924 patients with recent acute coronary syndromes receiving optimized statin treatment. In 4,351 patients (23.0%), screening or randomization LDL-C was 13.7 mg/dL or ≤13.7 mg/dL; corresponding adjusted treatment hazard ratios were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.72-0.92) and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.75-1.06), with Pinteraction = 0.43. Conclusions: In patients with recent acute coronary syndromes and LDL-C near 70 mg/dL on optimized statin therapy, proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibition provides incremental clinical benefit only when lipoprotein(a) concentration is at least mildly elevated. (ODYSSEY Outcomes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcomes After an Acute Coronary Syndrome During Treatment With Alirocumab; NCT01663402