RESUMO
The Central Andes of Peru are a region of great concern regarding pesticide risk to the health of local communities. Therefore, we conducted an observational study to assess the level of pesticide contamination among Andean people. Analytical chemistry methods were used to measure the concentrations of 170 pesticide-related compounds in hair samples from 50 adult Andean subjects living in rural and urban areas. As part of the study, a questionnaire was administered to the subjects to collect information regarding factors that increase the risk of pesticide exposure. Our results indicate that Andean people are strongly exposed to agrochemicals, being contaminated with a wide array of pesticide-related compounds at high concentration levels. Multivariate analyses and geostatistical modeling identified sociodemographic factors associated with rurality and food origin that increase pesticide exposure risk. The present study represents the first comprehensive investigation of pesticide-related compounds detected in body samples collected from people living in the Central Andes of Peru. Our findings pinpoint an alarming environmental situation that threatens human health in the region and provide a rationale for improving public policies to protect local communities.
Assuntos
Praguicidas , Adulto , Agroquímicos/análise , Exposição Ambiental/análise , Humanos , Peru , Praguicidas/análiseRESUMO
Entre las neoplasias malignas más frecuentes del mundo, el carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC) es la segunda causa de muerte relacionada con el cáncer (1). Su incidencia se ha duplicado durante las dos últimas décadas y la mayor carga se produce en los países de ingresos bajos y medianos. Los tumores hepáticos primarios malignos suelen describirse como una patología que afecta principalmente a hombres mayores de 40 años con un hígado cirrótico; rara vez se han registrado en personas más jóvenes y normalmente, en menores de 40, lo más común es el hepatoblastoma
RESUMO
Consumption of cereals contaminated by mycotoxins poses health risks. For instance, Fumonisins B, mainly produced by Fusarium verticillioides and Fusariumproliferatum, and the type B trichothecene deoxynivalenol, typically produced by Fusarium graminearum, are highly prevalent on cereal grains that are staples of many cultural diets and known to represent a toxic risk hazard. In Peru, corn and other cereals are frequently consumed on a daily basis under various forms, the majority of food grains being sold through traditional markets for direct consumption. Here, we surveyed mycotoxin contents of market-bought grain samples in order to assess the threat these mycotoxins might represent to Peruvian population, with a focus on corn. We found that nearly one sample of Peruvian corn out of six was contaminated with very high levels of Fumonisins, levels mostly ascribed to the presence of F. verticillioides. Extensive profiling of Peruvian corn kernels for fungal contaminants could provide elements to refine the potential risk associated with Fusarium toxins and help define adapted food safety standards.
Assuntos
Exposição Dietética/efeitos adversos , Grão Comestível/microbiologia , Microbiologia de Alimentos , Fusarium/metabolismo , Micotoxinas/efeitos adversos , Micotoxinas/análise , Zea mays/microbiologia , Comércio , Qualidade de Produtos para o Consumidor , Abastecimento de Alimentos , Humanos , Peru , Medição de RiscoRESUMO
We previously described a divergent clinical and molecular presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Peru. The present study aimed to further characterize the tissue features associated with this singular nosological form of HCC in order to gain insight into the natural history of the disease. We performed an exploratory analysis of the histology of both tumor and non-tumor liver (NTL) tissues from 50 Peruvian HCC patients, and compared with that of 75 individuals with non-HCC liver tumor or benign liver lesions as a baseline for NTL features. We complemented this approach with a transcriptome analysis in a subset of NTL tissue samples and also performed an ultra-sensitive hepatitis B virus (HBV) detection in liver tissues of the patients. Overall, results highlighted the low rate of liver parenchymal alterations in a young patient cohort (median age: 40 years old), despite a strong prevalence of underlying HBV infection (c. 67%). Withal, liver clear cell foci of cellular alteration were genuinely associated with HCC and appended to some changes in immune and G protein-coupled receptor gene expression ontologies. Our findings confirm the occurrence of a particular setting of HCC in South America, a region where the pathophysiology of liver cancer remains largely unexplored.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/epidemiologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Hepatite B Crônica/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/etiologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Criança , Estudos de Coortes , DNA Viral/análise , Fígado Gorduroso , Feminino , Fibrose , Vírus da Hepatite B/genética , Hepatite B Crônica/complicações , Hepatite B Crônica/genética , Hepatócitos/patologia , Humanos , Fígado/patologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/etiologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/genética , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Análise Multivariada , Prevalência , Estudos Retrospectivos , América do Sul/epidemiologia , Transcriptoma , Adulto Jovem , alfa-Fetoproteínas/análiseRESUMO
In Peru, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arises in young non-cirrhotic patients. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is suspected to be the prominent etiological agent. We thus performed a comprehensive molecular study of HBV infection in 65 Peruvian HCC patients. Only 51% were considered as persistently infected at the onset. HBV DNA was found by PCR in the tumor and/or matched non-tumor liver tissues in more than 80% of cases (n = 53/65). HBV DNA was significantly more abundant in livers of younger patients than in those of the older ones. We consistently observed low viral DNA burden (0.1-6.5 copies for 100 cells), with viral genomes in younger patients displaying higher proportion of mutations at di-pyrimidines (TpT and CpC, P = 0.006). A drastic activation of multiple DNA repair pathways in tumors of younger patients was observed. Our observations clearly challenge the current vision that associates high HBV DNA load with earlier tumor development. We concluded that in Peru, and maybe in other populations with Americas' indigenous ancestry, HBV-associated liver tumorigenesis might differ significantly from that generally observed in the rest of the world. Procedures used to screen for HCC development in subjects at risk should be adapted to the local situation.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Hepatocelular/virologia , DNA Viral/análise , Vírus da Hepatite B/genética , Hepatite B Crônica/virologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/virologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Criança , Reparo do DNA/genética , Feminino , Humanos , Fígado/patologia , Fígado/virologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Peru , Carga Viral/genética , Adulto JovemRESUMO
RATIONALE: The highest burden of liver cancer occurs in developing countries, where the use of herbal medicine (HM) is still widespread. Despite this trend, few studies have been conducted to report HM practices of patients with a hepatic tumor in the developing world. Hence, this study aimed to document the use of HM among patients with liver cancer in Peru. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A comparative behavioral epidemiological survey was conducted among liver cancer patients attending the National Cancer Institute of Peru. Information was obtained by direct interviews based on a semistructured questionnaire. The use of HM in Peruvian liver cancer patients was reported, first, regarding general consumption prior to the onset of disease, and second, after the appearance of symptoms that patients would relate to their tumor. In parallel, general consumption of HM in noncancerous people was assessed as a comparative figure. A correspondence analysis was performed to reveal potential associations between the symptoms of cancer and the specific use of HM. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients and 117 noncancerous individuals participated in the survey. Overall, 68.3% of the people interviewed claimed to use HM on a regular basis for general health preservation. Furthermore, 56.8% of the patients turned to plants first to treat the disorders for which they later came to the cancer care center. When compared with the number of plant species used routinely (n = 78), a selection of plants was made by patients in response to the symptoms of cancer (n = 46). At least 2 plant species, Aloe vera and Morinda citrifolia, were significantly associated with the treatment of liver cancer-related symptoms in the patient group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first survey on the HM practices of patients with liver cancer in Latin America and, more broadly, in the developing world. Our findings confirm that HM remains one of the principal primary health care resources in Peru, even for a severe disease like liver cancer. These traditional, complementary and alternative medicine practices should be taken into consideration in Peruvian health programs aiming to educate the population in cancer prevention and treatment, as well as integrative cancer management.
Assuntos
Terapias Complementares/métodos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Fitoterapia , Adulto , Feminino , Pesquisas sobre Atenção à Saúde , Medicina Herbária/métodos , Humanos , Medicina Integrativa/métodos , Oncologia Integrativa/métodos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Peru , Prática Profissional , Adulto JovemRESUMO
One new phthalide (1) was isolated from aerial parts of Peperomia nivalis, along with known compounds (2 and 3), reported in this species for the first time. The structure of the new compound was characterised on the basis of 1D (1H and 13C NMR), 2D (COSY, HMQC, HMBC and NOESY) NMR and high-resolution mass spectral (HRMS) data. Compound 2 was isolated from a natural source for the first time but previously synthesised. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-Plasmodium falciparum activities. Compound 1 showed moderate activities against H. pylori (MIC 47.5 µM) and the F32-Tanzania strain of P. falciparum (IC50 8.5 µM). Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited weak anti-H. pylori activity (MIC 241.3 and 237.6 µM, respectively) and were inactive against P. falciparum.