Epilobium angustifolium extract demonstrates multiple effects on dermal fibroblasts in vitro and skin photo-protection in vivo.

Stress-induced fibroblast senescence is thought to contribute to skin aging. Ultraviolet light (UV) radiation is the most potent environmental risk factor in these processes. An Epilobium angustifolium (EA) extract was evaluated for its capacity to reverse the senescent response of normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) in vitro and to exhibit skin photo-protection in vivo.

Insight into the wild origin, migration and domestication history of the fine flavour Nacional Theobroma cacao L. variety from Ecuador.

Ecuador's economic history has been closely linked to Theobroma cacao L cultivation, and specifically to the native fine flavour Nacional cocoa variety. The original Nacional cocoa trees are presently in danger of extinction due to foreign germplasm introductions. In a previous work, a few non-introgressed Nacional types were identified as potential founders of the modern Ecuadorian cocoa population, but so far their origin could not be formally identified.

Photoprotective effects of glucomannan isolated from Candida utilis.

Glucomannans belong to yeast and fungal cell wall polysaccharides with known immunostimulatory and radioprotective effects. However, glucomannan protective effects against pathological consequences of skin exposure to short wavelength solar light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, are unclear. Herein, a highly branched glucomannan (GM) isolated from the cell wall of Candida utilis, a member of the alpha-(1-->6)-D-mannan group, was tested for its photoprotective effects in an in vitro model of UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes and an in vivo model of UV-induced erythema formation in human volunteers.

A major susceptibility locus on chromosome 22q12 plays a critical role in the control of kala-azar.

Kala-azar (KA) is a life-threatening protozoal disease caused by Leishmania parasites (L. donovani, L. chagasi, and L.

Linkage of benign familial infantile convulsions to chromosome 16p12-q12 suggests allelism to the infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis syndrome.

The syndrome of benign familial infantile convulsions (BFIC) is an autosomal dominant epileptic disorder that is characterized by convulsions, with onset at age 3-12 mo and a favorable outcome. BFIC had been linked to chromosome 19q, whereas the infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis (ICCA) syndrome, in which BFIC is associated with paroxysmal dyskinesias, had been linked to chromosome 16p12-q12. BFIC appears to be frequently associated with paroxysmal dyskinesias, because many additional families from diverse ethnic backgrounds have similar syndromes that have been linked to the chromosome 16 ICCA region.