Objective: To evaluate associations between components of the Mediterranean diet and circulating markers of inflammation in a large cohort of asymptomatic subjects at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Subjects/Methods: A total of 339 men and 433 women aged between 55 and 80 years at high cardiovascular risk because of presence of diabetes or at least three classical cardiovascular risk factors, food consumption was determined by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by immunonephelometry and those of interleukin-6 (IL-6), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, diabetes, smoking, use of statins, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and aspirin, a higher consumption of fruits and cereals was associated with lower concentrations of IL-6 (P for trend 0.005;both). Subjects with the highest consumption of nuts and virgin olive oil showed the lowest concentrations of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, IL-6 and CRP; albeit only for ICAM-1 was this difference statistically significant in the case of nuts (for trend 0.003) and for VCAM-1 in the case of virgin olive oil (P for trend 0.02). Participants with higher adherence to the Mediterranean-type diet did not show significantly lower concentrations of inflammatory markers (Po0.1 for VCAM-1 and ICAM-1).

Propolis is a non-toxic natural substance with multiple pharmacological properties including anti-cancer, antioxidant, fungicidal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory among others. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical and botanical characterization of Chilean propolis samples and to evaluate their biological activity against the cariogenic bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Twenty propolis samples were obtained from beekeeping producers from the central and southern regions of Chile. The botanical profile was determined by palynological analysis. Total phenolic contents were determined using colorimetric assays. Reverse phase HPLC and HPLC-MS were used to determine the chemical composition. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined on S. mutans and S. sobrinus. All propolis samples were dominated by structures from native plant species. The characterization by HPLC/MS, evidenced the presence of quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, rutine, pinocembrin, coumaric acid, caffeic acid and caffeic acid phenethyl ester, that have already been described in these propolis with conventional HPLC. Although all propolis samples inhibited the mutans streptococci growth, it was observed a wide spectrum of action (MIC 0.90 to 8.22 μg mL−1). Given that results it becomes increasingly evident the need of standardization procedures, where we combine both the determination of botanical and the chemical characterization of the extracts. Research conducted to date, describes a promising effectiveness of propolis in the prevention of caries and other diseases of the oral cavity, making it necessary to develop studies to identify and understand the therapeutic targets or mechanisms of molecular action of the various compounds present on them.

The antifungal effect of six commercial extracts of Chilean propolis on Candida spp. Cien. Inv. Agr. 37(1): 75-84. Propolis has been used in traditional medicine for many centuries because of its beneficial health properties, including its antimicrobial capacity. Prosthesis stomatitis affects a significant percentage of users of removable dentures; Candida albicans is the most common fungal species associated with the development of this pathology. Thus, the objectives of this study were: a. To evaluate the antifungal activity of six commercial propolis extracts against Candida spp. that was isolated from the oral cavity of removable dentures users, and b. To determine chemical characteristics of the propolis extracts evaluated. Among the results, we note that these concentrations of polyphenols varied between 9 ± 0.3 and 85 ± 2.1 mg mL-1. Chromatographic analysis was able to detect 35 compounds, among which were caffeic acid, myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, pinocembrin, galangin, and caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE). All strains tested were inhibited by the liquid extracts of propolis. The MID ranged between 1:40 and 1:1280, and the MIC for C. albicans ranged from 197 µg mL-1 to 441 µg mL-1. From the results obtained in this investigation, we can conclude that all propolis extracts evaluated are capable of inhibiting the development of Candida spp. However, they show significant differences in the concentration of polyphenols present and in antifungal activity.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia. Thus, genetic variants related with these conditions may modulate its development. We evaluated the effect of polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) on metabolic syndrome risk in a cohort of Chilean subjects. Subjects and methods: A total of 152 subjects, 83 with MetS (51.2 ± 9.6 years) and 69 without MetS (49.5 ± 9.3 years) of both genders were included, according to the ATP III update criteria. The rs4340 Insertion/Deletion (I/D), rs699 (T>C) and rs5186 (A>C) of the ACE, AGT and AGTR1 genes, respectively, were genotyped. Results: After adjusting for age and gender, we observed the DD genotype of rs4340 associated with MetS (p = 0.02). Specifically, the DD genotype was associated with MetS risk in women (OR = 4.62, 95%CI, 1.41 -15.04; p < 0.01). In males, the AA genotype for rs5186 variant was associated with an increased risk for developing MetS when compared with women carrying the same genotype (OR = 3.2; 95%CI, 1.03 -9.89; p = 0.04). In subjects without MetS, DD genotype was associated with increased waist circumference (p = 0.023) while subjects with MetS carrying the rs5186 TT genotype showed higher levels of HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.031). Conclusion: The present study contributes data highlighting the role for RAS polymorphisms in predisposing to metabolic syndrome in Chilean subjects. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2016;60(3):190-8

RESUMEN:Streptococcus mutans y Streptococcus sobrinus han sido indicados como los principales agentes etiológicos de la caries dental. Sin embargo, los métodos microbiológicos y bioquímicos, disponibles actualmente en Chile, no permiten la rápida detección e identificación de estas bacterias. El objetivo de este trabajo fue implementar la metodología de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) para detectar la presencia de S. mutans y S. sobrinus en saliva. Participaron de este estudio 51 escolares (5 a 17 años), provenientes de cinco diferentes colegios de la ciudad de Temuco; a los cuales se les realizó recuento de estreptococos del grupo mutans en saliva por método microbiológico y la diferenciación de especies por la técnica de PCR. Los resultados mostraron que la sensibilidad para la técnica de PCR fue 1000 UFC/mL de saliva, diez veces superior a la sensibilidad del método microbiológico utilizado (10.000 UFC/mL). Además, el análisis de la especificidad de la amplificación, evaluada por restricción enzimática, confirmó la presencia de las bacterias investigadas. La prevalencia de S. mutans fue de 88.2% y para S. sobrinus de 11.8%. La presencia conjunta de ambas bacterias fue observada en 7.8% de los individuos. En conclusión, podemos señalar que la metodología implementada es útil para la detección rápida de S. mutans y S. sobrinus en saliva. PALABRAS CLAVE: Caries; Streptococcus mutans; PCR INTRODUCCIÓNLa caries dental es la enfermedad crónica más prevalente a nivel mundial (Selwitz et al., 2007). En esta patología infecciosa, las bacterias estreptococos del grupo mutans, principalmente Streptococcus mutans y Streptococcus sobrinus, son las que se han asociado con mayor frecuencia al desarrollo de lesiones cariosas (Napimoga et al., 2005). Estos microorganismos juegan un rol vital en la patogenia de la caries, debido a su capacidad para favorecer la desmineralización del diente. Sin embargo, es importante recordar que esta patología es multifactorial e intervienen tanto factores personales como ambientales, dentro de los que destacan la susceptibilidad genética individual, las características del diente y la saliva, la dieta, los hábitos higiénicos, el nivel educacional, etc.En los últimos años, se han desarrollado diversos mé-todos microbiológicos para poder detectar cepas de estreptococos con potencial cariogénico, estimando en algunos de ellos, además el número de Unidades Formadoras de Colonias (UFC) con el objetivo de monitorizar el grado de colonización de un individuo y establecer el riesgo de desarrollar caries dental desde el punto de vista microbiológico. Sin embargo, existen variaciones importantes en el porcentaje de recuperación de especies bacterianas dependiendo del medio de cultivo utilizado (Hildebrandt & Bretz, 2006). Otras metodologías también usadas para lograr diferenciar especies bacterianas con potencial cariogénico, se basan en la morfología que presentan las colonias en agar, pruebas bioquímicas, inmunológicas y métodos genético-moleculares (Oho et al., 2000). Todas estas técnicas...