Institution
University of Costa Rica
Education•San José, Costa Rica•
About: University of Costa Rica is a education organization based out in San José, Costa Rica. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Venom. The organization has 9817 authors who have published 16781 publications receiving 238208 citations. The organization is also known as: UCR & Universidad de Costa Rica.
Topics: Population, Venom, Antivenom, Snake venom, Myotoxin
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: The local effects induced by intramuscular inoculations of venoms from six species of coral snakes were studied in mice, finding that all these venoms induced a similar pattern of myonecrosis, characterized by a conspicuous alteration of the intracellular structure.
59 citations
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TL;DR: First results on the human bioavailability of γ-carotene, β-carotsene, and lycopene from peach palm fruit are reported, particularly proving the post-prandial absorption of the rarely occurringγ- carotene.
Abstract: High levels of β-carotene, lycopene, and the rare γ-carotene occur predominantly lipid-dissolved in the chromoplasts of peach palm fruits First proof of their absorption from these fruits is reported
The structural diversity, the physical deposition state in planta, and the human bioavailability of carotenoids from the edible fruits of diverse orange and yellow-colored peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) varieties were investigated HPLC–PDA–MSn revealed a broad range of carotenes, reaching total carotenoid levels from 07 to 139 mg/100 g FW Besides the predominant (all-E)-β-carotene (04–54 mg/100 g FW), two (Z)-isomers of γ-carotene (01–39 mg/100 g FW), and one (Z)-lycopene isomer (004–083 mg/100 g FW) prevailed Approximately 89–94 % of total carotenoid content pertained to provitamin A carotenoids with retinol activity equivalents ranging from 37 to 609 µg/100 g FW The physical deposition state of these carotenoids in planta was investigated using light, transmission electron, and scanning electron microscopy The plastids found in both orange and yellow-colored fruit mesocarps were amylo-chromoplasts of the globular type, containing carotenoids predominantly in a lipid-dissolved form The hypothesis of lipid-dissolved carotenoids was supported by simple solubility estimations based on carotenoid and lipid contents of the fruit mesocarp In our study, we report first results on the human bioavailability of γ-carotene, β-carotene, and lycopene from peach palm fruit, particularly proving the post-prandial absorption of the rarely occurring γ-carotene Since the physical state of carotenoid deposition has been shown to be decisive for carotenoid bioavailability, lipid-dissolved carotenoids in peach palm fruits are expected to be highly bioavailable, however, further studies are required
59 citations
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TL;DR: Toepad size and claw length and height are tightly correlated with each other and with perch height, suggesting that the adhesive toepad and gripping claw have co-evolved to accommodate different habitats.
59 citations
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TL;DR: A multicomponent strategy involving stakeholders on many levels could help consolidate sustainable improvements in antivenom availability worldwide.
Abstract: Snakebite envenoming is a common but neglected public health problem, particularly in impoverished rural regions of sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. The only validated treatment for this condition is passive immunotherapy with safe and effective animal-derived antivenoms. However, there is a long-lasting crisis in the availability of these life-saving medications, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. We herein advocate a multicomponent strategy to substantially improve the availability of safe and effective antivenoms at the global level. This strategy is based on: (i) preparing validated collections of representative venom pools from the most medically dangerous snakes in high-risk regions of the world; (ii) strengthening the capacity of national antivenom manufacturing and quality control laboratories and their regulatory authorities and establishing new facilities in developing countries through technology transfer, as an integral part of efforts to develop their biological products industry; (iii) getting established laboratories to generate antivenoms for various regions of the world; and (iv) getting governments and relevant organizations to give snakebite envenoming due recognition within national and international public health policy frameworks. These ways of making antivenom available should be complemented by actions to improve health information systems, the accessibility of antivenoms, the training of medical and nursing staff, and community-based education. Such a multicomponent strategy involving stakeholders on many levels could help consolidate sustainable improvements in antivenom availability worldwide.
59 citations
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TL;DR: Spinal proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide, and prostanoids each appear to be involved in the pain‐enhancing effects of these sPLA2s, providing the first evidence of spinal mediators involved in pain facilitation induced by subcutaneous venoms.
Abstract: Snakebites are a relevant public health problem in Central and South America Snake bite envenomations cause intense pain, not relieved by anti-venom The fangs of many species are short, causing subcutaneous injection Fangs of larger species inflict subcutaneous or intramuscular envenomation To understand pain induced by subcutaneous venom, this study examined spinal mechanisms involved in pain-enhancing effects of subcutaneous Lys49 and Asp49 secretory phospholipase-A2 (sPLA2), two components of Bothrops asper snake venom showing highly different enzymatic activities Unilateral intraplantar sPLA2-Lys49 (catalytically inactive) or sPLA2-Asp49 (catalytically active) into rat hindpaws each induced mechanical hyperalgesia (Randall–Selitto test), whereas only catalytically active sPLA2-Asp49 caused mechanical allodynia (von Frey test) Effects induced by both sPLA2s were inhibited by intrathecal fluorocitrate, a reversible glial metabolic inhibitor In support, immunohistochemical analysis revealed activation of dorsal horn astrocytes and microglia after intraplantar injection of either sPLA2 Spinal proinflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide, and prostanoids each appear to be involved in the pain-enhancing effects of these sPLA2s Blockade of interleukin-1 (IL1) inhibited hyperalgesia induced by both sPLA2s, while leaving allodynia unaffected Blockade of tumor necrosis factor reduced responses to sPLA2-Asp49 An inhibitor of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), inhibited hyperalgesia induced by both sPLA2s, without interfering with allodynia induced by sPLA2-Asp49 On the other hand, l -N6-(1-iminoethyl)lysine ( l -NI), an inhibitor of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, did not alter any sPLA2-induced effect Lastly, celecoxib, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, attenuated sPLA2 actions These data provide the first evidence of spinal mediators involved in pain facilitation induced by subcutaneous venoms
59 citations
Authors
Showing all 9922 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
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Alberto Ascherio | 136 | 462 | 69578 |
Gervasio Gomez | 133 | 1844 | 99695 |
Myron M. Levine | 123 | 789 | 60865 |
Hong-Cai Zhou | 114 | 489 | 66320 |
Edward O. Wilson | 101 | 406 | 89994 |
Mary Claire King | 100 | 336 | 47454 |
Olga Martín-Belloso | 86 | 384 | 23428 |
José María Gutiérrez | 84 | 607 | 26779 |
Cesare Montecucco | 84 | 382 | 27738 |
Rodolphe Clérac | 78 | 506 | 22604 |
Kim R. Dunbar | 74 | 470 | 20262 |
Paul J. Hanson | 70 | 251 | 19504 |
Hannia Campos | 69 | 210 | 15164 |
Jean-Pierre Gorvel | 67 | 231 | 15005 |
F. Albert Cotton | 66 | 1023 | 27647 |