The reduced frequency of positive serological markers of disease in patients and normal controls from Western Parana, as well as the absence of recurrent disease in previously identified patients, suggest that environmental antigenic stimulation of the population at risk may have decreased in recent years.

Medicinal plants are used throughout the world and the World Health Organization supports its use by recommending quality, safety and efficacy. Minthostachys mollis is distributed in the Andes of South America and is used by the population for various diseases. While studies have shown their pharmacological properties, the information about their safety is very limited. Then, the goal of this research was to determine the acute oral toxicity and in repeated doses during 28 days of Minthostachys mollis essential oil (Mm-EO) in rats. For the acute toxicity test two groups of rats, of three animals each, were used. Each group received Mm-EO in a single dose of 2000 or 300 mg/kg of body weight. For the repeated dose toxicity test, four groups of 10 rats each were used. Doses of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day were used, one group was control. With the single dose of Mm-EO of 2000 mg/kg of body weight, the three rats in the group showed immediate signs of toxicity and died between 36 and 72 hours. In the lung, inflammatory infiltrate was observed, predominantly lymphocytic with severe hemorrhage and presence of macrophages with hemosiderin. In the repeated dose study, male rats (5/5) and female rats (2/5) died at the dose of 500 mg/kg/day. The body weight of both male and female rats decreased significantly with doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg/day. The serum levels of AST and ALT increased significantly and the histopathological study revealed chronic and acute inflammatory infiltrate in the lung; while in the liver was observed in 80% of the cases (24/30) mild chronic inflammatory infiltrate and in some of those cases there was vascular congestion and in one case cytoplasmic vacuolization. The Mm-EO presented moderate acute oral toxicity, while with repeated doses for 28 days; there was evidence of toxicity, in a dose-dependent manner, mainly at the hepatic level.

Background: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. (I. batatas) is a root native from South America that is characterized by its antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties contribute to the wound healing process. Objective: To evaluate the healing activity of a gel based on I. batatas on dermal wound healing in mice. Material and methods: An acid ethanolic extract (1.5 N hydrochloric acid: Ethanol 96 ° 15:85, v / v) was prepared with the peels of the roots of I. batatas "purple sweet potato", which was incorporated into the formulations 0.5% and 1% gel. Mus musculus Balb / c with induced injury were distributed in four experimental groups: Group I (Control), which did not receive any treatment. Group II (Gel base), Group III (Gel I. batatas 0.5%) and Group IV (Gel I. batatas 1%) received the daily administration of topical treatments for 14 days. Wound closure was determined during the experimentation time, then they were euthanized with sodium pentobarbital 60 mg / kg / pc v.ip. to obtain skin samples for histopathological analysis. Results: Group IV shows a higher percentage of wound closure, which is also evidenced in histopathological changes. Conclusions: The 1% gel based on the ethanolic extract of the peels of the roots of Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. they show healing activity in wounds induced in mice, being the most effective treatment.

Background: High altitude exposure triggers a series of physiological changes to maintain homeostasis. Although longer-term (days to years) acclimatization processes are well studied, less is known about the physiological changes upon rapid ascent. We took advantage of Peru’s geography to measure the first physiological changes following rapid transport from a low to a high-altitude environment among lowlanders. Methods: Blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and salivary cortisol among healthy lowland Peruvians were measured before and after glucose ingestion at 40 m and upon arrival at 3470 m. Resting heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and blood pressure were also monitored. Results: At high altitude, we find a significant (p<0.05) increase in heart rate and a decrease in blood oxygen saturation and salivary cortisol. Additionally, baseline levels of blood glucose, plasma C-peptide, and cortisol were reduced (p<0.05). Blood glucose, plasma insulin, and plasma C-peptide returned to baseline or below faster at high altitude after glucose ingestion. Conclusions: Although many overlapping environmental and physiological factors are present in the high-altitude environment, the first steps of acclimatization in this population appear to be caused by increased energy expenditure and glucose metabolism to maintain oxygen homeostasis until the longer-term acclimatization mechanisms become more significant.

IntroductionCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Cardiovascular risk factors are present in increasingly younger populations and medical students are no exception.ObjectivesTo determine if there is a relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and academic performance in medical students enrolled during 2015 at Antenor Orrego Private University (UPAO) in Trujillo, Peru.MethodsA descriptive, cross‐sectional study was performed on a population of 78 second‐year medical students (74% female, mean age of 18.9±1.5 years). Family history of CVD, medical history, tobacco use, vital functions, body mass index, waist – hip index (WHI), serum glycemia levels, electrocardiogram and lipid profile (ATP III) were evaluated. Academic performance was measured using the grade obtained in the morphophysiology I course.ResultsCardiovascular risk factors associated (p<0.05) with poor academic performance were pre‐hypertension in women and men and a WHI > 0.8 in women.ConclusionsCardiovascular risk factors correlate with academic performance of medical students, which underlines the importance of mitigating such risk factors.Support or Funding InformationAntenor Orrego Private University (UPAO)