Publications by authors named "Seguel I"

Murtilla () is a shrub native to Chile that has undergone an incipient domestication process aimed at increasing its productivity. The reduction in intrinsic chemical defenses due to the domestication process has resulted in a decrease in the plant's ability to defend itself against mechanical or insect damage. In response to this damage, plants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as a means of defense.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Accumulation of misfolded proteins in the brain is a common hallmark of most age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies from our group identified the presence of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds in leaves derived from the Chilean berry Ugni molinae (murtilla), in addition to show a potent anti-aggregation activity in models of Alzheimer´s disease. However, possible beneficial effects of berry extracts of murtilla was not investigated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In terms of the domestication process in murtilla, studies have found changes in the concentration of phenolic compounds, with reduction of chemical defense of plants, depending on the change in the feeding behavior of insects. Thus, we hypothesized that the domestication of decreases the content of phenolic compounds and modifies the feeding preference of larvae. Leaves of three parental ecotypes and four cultivated ecotypes were used in preference experiments to evaluate the mass gain and leaves consumption of larvae.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Plant domestication decreases the chemical defenses in murtilla plants, making them more vulnerable to pests like Chilesia rudis.
  • Research showed that cultivated murtilla plants had higher numbers of pests and more damage compared to wild plants, along with increased diversity of insects.
  • Although wild murtilla had higher concentrations of flavonols, no significant differences in isoflavonoids were found, indicating that domestication alters plant chemistry and affects insect behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ugni molinae Turcz. is a native shrub of Chile, known for its edible berries and its leaves, which have been the focus of recent attention, as a good source of phenolic compounds to be used in cosmetics and food products. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in the phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of the ethanolic extracts from the leaves of 10 genotypes of U.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Plant domestication can have negative consequences for defensive traits against herbivores, potentially reducing the levels of chemical defenses in plants and consequently their resistance against herbivores. We characterized and quantified the defensive flavonols from multiple cultivated ecotypes with wild ancestors of murtilla, Ugni molinae Turcz, an endemic plant from Chile, at different times of the year, and examined their effects on a native insect herbivore, Chilesia rudis Butler (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). We hypothesized that domestication results in a decrease in flavonol levels in U.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The objective of this work was to address the problem of tuberculosis (TB) infection among Health Care Workers (HCW), based on an experience in a TB Prevention and Treatment Programme at a General Acute Hospital in Buenos Aires City. The objectives of the programme were to provide health education and periodic screening of HCW, to detect TB cases and to implement control measures. TB infection was defined by a 10 mm reaction to 2 UT PPD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The risk of cardiovascular diseases is two to four times higher in diabetic patients.

Aim: To study the severity of coronary disease and survival of patients with diabetes mellitus, compared to matched controls without diabetes.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of all coronary angiographies performed at a private hospital.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Between December 1987 and July 1992, we performed a balloon mitral valvuloplasty to 300 patients aged 48 +/- 23 years, with pure or predominant, symptomatic mitral stenosis, with an hemodynamic area < 1.5 cm2 and a mean echocardiographic score of 8.8 +/- 1.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this study was to assess the real usefulness of percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty (PMV). Eighty patients aged less than 56 years old, with symptomatic pure mitral stenosis, with an hemodynamic and echocardiographic area < 1.5 cm2, without associated valvular or coronary lesions and without surgical contraindications were studied.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

From June 1986 to June 1991, percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty was performed in 43 patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. Their age ranged from 52 to 81 years (mean 69). The retrograde approach was used in 34 and the transseptal technique in the remaining 9.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We evaluated 77 patients with symptomatic mitral stenosis for balloon valvuloplasty. Five patients were excluded from the procedure due to the presence of intra-atrial thrombi or mitral valve endocarditis as detected by 2D echocardiography. The mean age of the 72 treated patients was 38 +/- 11 years, 68 were NYHA functional class II or IV: only 6 patients had valvular calcification.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We performed a percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty in 6 patients with severe mitral stenosis, aged 21 to 50 years. The mitral valve gradient decreased from 14.7 +/- 4.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF