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When developing nanotechnology solutions for global health it is important to be mindful of the ethical, environmental, socio-economical, cultural and legal aspects associated with their deployment.

Chenopodium incisum Poir., Amaranthaceae, is employed as a remedy to alleviate susto, a culture-bound syndrome. This study evaluated the anxiolytic-like effect of a single oral dose of a hydroethanolic extract of C. incisum and two of its main constituents, pinostrobin and stigmasterol, in the elevated plus maze and hole-board test in mice. The nonspecific effects of the drugs on the ambulatory activity of mice were evaluated in the open field test. The acute toxicity of the extract was determined, and the extract composition was analyzed. The extract at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, as well as pinostrobin and stigmasterol (1 to 30 mg/kg), induced anxiolytic-like effects in both the elevated plus maze and in the hole-board tests, significantly increasing the exploratory behaviors. The anxiolytic actions of drugs were not associated with changes in the ambulatory activity of animals. No evidence of toxicity was observed in the animals treated with hydroethanolic extract of C. incisum. The mean lethal dose was higher than 2000 mg/kg. Chenopodium incisum elicited anxiolytic effects in mice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the anxiolytic effect of pinostrobin. Our results suggest that C. incisum is beneficial to patients with mood disorders.

A novel method to detect DNA mutations based on gold nanoparticles is described. This bioconjugate was prepared by conjugation of the TGFBI gene on the surface of gold nanoparticles. The surface plasmon resonance band observed in the ultraviolet–visible spectrum of the gold nanoparticles showed a shift to a lower energy after the surface was covered with the TGFBI gene. Surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy (SEIRAS) showed the absorption bands of the bioconjugate due to their proximity to the nanoparticles. The SEIRAS effect was able to detect small and specific changes in the sequence of the TGFBI gene using interactions of the bioconjugates. The study was performed on patients clinically diagnosed with lattice corneal dystrophy (LCD). To our knowledge, this is the first report of FTIR spectroscopy employed to analyse this gene. We used genotyping results previously obtained by next-generation DNA sequencing technology to ensure that the analysed samples had the mutation. Our results show highly reproducible signals, which could be used for analytical studies of mutations in the genome.

Local perceptions of landscape attributes are recognized as critical in the evaluation of multifunctional territories; however, case studies in the urban wetlands context are limited. This study assesses socioeconomic, environmental and regional management variables that may directly and indirectly affect local population’s perceptions, altering stakeholders concerns for defining urban wetland management agendas in the San Gregorio de Atapulco wetland of Xochimilco, Mexico City. Using Principal Component Analysis, we evaluated factors influencing socioenvironmental perceptions among urban wetland residents in the context of the chinampa area, an ancestral agro-productive system south of Mexico City. Results indicate the majority of socioeconomic and environmental variables, excluding age, gender and education, were not statistically significant. Regional management variables, particularly pertaining to canals, urban housing and irregular settlements, had significantly more importance than socioeconomic and environmental variables and influence resident’s perceptions of factors that detract from and promote sustainability of the urban wetland. In terms of urban wetland management agendas, locals` concerns were related to the effects of urbanization, wetland governance and regional habitability. We suggest that urban wetland policy developed within neighborhood planning units and aimed at reducing urban sprawl while introducing landscape conservation strategies could positively affect better local land use and wetland sustainability.

Our aim was to determine the molecular cause of autosomal dominant familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity (FRAT) in a family with three affected subjects. Ophthalmologic evaluation included determination of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp and dilated fundus inspection, applanation tonometry, fundus photography, and fluorescein retinal angiography (FA). Molecular methods included whole exome sequencing analysis and Sanger sequencing validation of putative causal mutation in DNA from affected individuals. Typical signs of familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity were observed in all three patients. Exome sequencing identified a heterozygous c.1528G > A (p. Gly510Arg) mutation in COL4A1. Sanger sequencing confirmed that all three patients harbored the same pathogenetic mutation in COL4A1. The p. Gly510Arg variant in COL4A1 was absent in DNA from an available unaffected daughter, from a set of control alleles, and from publicly available databases. The molecular basis of familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity was identified for the first time, thus expanding the human phenotypes linked to COL4A1 mutations. Interestingly, the COL4A1 p.Gly510Arg mutation has been previously identified in a family with HANAC (Hereditary Angiopathy with Nephropathy, Aneurysm and Cramps), a multisystemic disease featuring retinal arteriolar tortuosity. No cerebral, neurologic, renal, cardiac or vascular anomalies were recognized in the pedigree described here. These data indicate that identical mutations in COL4A1 can originate both eye-restricted and systemic phenotypes.

The present study was carried out to determine the oxidation states of iron in lanthanum and holmium ferrites synthesized by a solid state method. The X-ray diffraction results, of both compounds, correspond to the perovskite structure of LaFeO3 and HoFeO3. The Mossbauer spectroscopy applied to these phases show only the oxidation state of Fe (III).

Experiments with young mammals have indicated that renal arginine synthesis is a major endogenous source of this amino acid. The kidney readily synthesizes arginine from intestinally derived citrulline, which is produced from glutamate, the so-called intestinal-renal axis. The present experiment was conducted to ascertain whether or not citrulline and arginine are synthesized in channel catfish via this pathway by administering gabaculine, an effective inhibitor of ornithine aminotransferase, and then monitoring circulating levels of arginine, citrulline, glutamate and ornithine. A conditioning diet was fed to apparent satiation to triplicate groups of channel catfish initially averaging 150 g/fish. After 2 weeks of acclimation, fish were lightly anesthetized with MS-222 and were intubated with a gelatin capsule containing gabaculine (3 mg/kg body weight) in one dose. Then, 24 and 48 h after gabaculine treatment, blood plasma was obtained and analyzed for amino acids via HPLC. Oral gabaculine administration significantly (p < 0.05) decreased plasma concentrations of citrulline (−41.8%) and arginine (−8.9%). It also increased (p < 0.05) plasma glutamine (+17.5%) and ornithine (+256.6%). A reasonable explanation for the increase in plasma glutamine and the decrease in citrulline and arginine is offered by the inhibition of glutamine degradation and a decrease in synthesis of citrulline caused by gabaculine. Results of this experiment suggest that endogenous synthesis of citrulline occurs in channel catfish, most likely at the small intestine, and it may serve as a de novo source of arginine. Therefore, the physiological needs of fish tissues and organs for arginine appear to be met via both dietary arginine and the endogenous synthesis of this amino acid.

Objectives Our aim was to determine the molecular cause of autosomal dominant familial retinal arteriolar tortuosity (FRAT) in a family with three affected subjects.

The correlation between nine anthropometric variables and six different measurements of the Y heterochromatic regions of 146 young Mexican adults was investigated. Only the absolute heterochromatic width showed a significant correlation at the 0.02 level with the upper segment/lower segment ratio, but the biological significance of this finding is strongly questioned.