Dapagliflozin plus exenatide on patients with type 2 diabetes awaiting bariatric surgery in the DEXBASU study.

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist family together with the renal sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors have garnered interest as potential therapeutic agents for subjects with type 2 diabetes and obesity. In these patients, bariatric surgery is indicated based in a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2. A 24-week non-blinded, randomized pilot study to assess the efficacy of subcutaneous exenatide 2.0 mg once weekly plus oral dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily (Group A) compared to a control group (Group B) in 56 patients with type 2 diabetes awaiting bariatric surgery was conducted (EudraCTid.: 2017-001,454-33). Both groups received an energy-deficit low-fat diet. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients running off the criteria for bariatric surgery at the end of the follow-up period (BMI ≤ 35.0 kg/m2 or a BMI ≤ 40.0 kg/m2 plus an HbA1c ≤ 6.0%). Changes in the BMI were also of interest. The proportion of patients who ran off the criteria for bariatric surgery was larger in Group A than in the control group (45.8% vs. 12.0%, p = 0.010). Participants in Group A exhibited an absolute decrease in body weight and BMI of 8.1 kg (95%IC: - 11.0 to - 5.2) and 3.3 kg/m2 (95%IC: - 4.5 to - 2.2), respectively (p < 0.001 for both in comparison with Group B). A higher percentage of participants in Group A reached a BMI < 35 kg/m2 (45.8 vs 12.0%) and lost > 10% of their initial body weight (20.8 vs 0%) compared to Group B. The combination of exenatide plus dapagliflozin appears as a strategic option to reduce the waiting list for bariatric surgery, especially in those patients with type 2 diabetes.

Randomized Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Morphological Changes in the Adventitial Vasa Vasorum Density and Biological Markers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Subjects with Moderate Obesity Undergoing a Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet.

Weight loss after bariatric surgery decreases the earlier expansion of the adventitial vasa vasorum (VV), a biomarker of early atheromatous disease. However, no data are available regarding weight loss achieved by very low calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD) on VV and lipid-based atherogenic indices. A randomized clinical trial was performed to examine changes in adventitial VV density in 20 patients with moderate obesity who underwent a 6-month very low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD, 600-800 kcal/day), and 10 participants with hypocaloric diet based on the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet, estimated reduction of 500 kcal on the usual intake). Contrast-enhanced carotid ultrasound was used to assess the VV. Body composition analysis was also used. The atherogenic index of plasma (log (triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio)) and the triglyceride-glucose index were calculated. Serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) were measured. The impact of weight on quality of life-lite (IWQOL-Lite) questionnaire was administered. Participants of intervention groups displayed a similar VV values. Significant improvements of BMI (-5.3 [-6.9 to -3.6] kg/m2, p < 0.001), total body fat (-7.0 [-10.7 to -3.3] %, p = 0.003), and IWQOL-Lite score (-41.4 [-75.2 to -7.6], p = 0.027) were observed in VLCKD group in comparison with MedDiet group. Although after a 6-months follow-up period VV density (mean, right and left sides) did not change significantly in any group, participants in the VLCKD exhibited a significantly decrease both in their atherogenic index of plasma and serum concentration of sICAM-1. A 6-month intervention with VLCKD do not impact in the density of the adventitial VV in subjects with moderate obesity, but induces significant changes in markers of endothelial dysfunction and CV risk.

Dynamics of Anthropometric Indices in a Large Paired Cohort With 10 Years of Follow-Up: Paving the Way to Sarcopenic Obesity.

Introduction: Paired cohort investigations assessing the evolution of anthropometric indices are scarce. Here we assessed the 10-year evolution of BMI, total body fat, and lean body mass in 50,019 participants aged 18-90 years at the time of first assessment. Material and Methods: A retrospective cohort study using an electronic database that contains anonymized, longitudinal data from Primary Care medical records covering the 2007-2008 and 2017-2018 periods. Total body fat was estimated using the Clínica Universidad de Navarra-Body Adiposity Estimator formula, and the Hume formula was applied to estimate lean body mass. Results: The mean BMI of participants <60 years old in the 2007-2008 period increased significantly, from 27.5 to 28.3 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). However, the BMI of older subjects decreased during the next decade, from 28.9 to 28.3 kg/m2 (p < 0.001). The estimated total body fat showed a continuous progressive increase over all ages. Finally, lean body mass showed a progressive increase until the 40s, with a plateau between 40-45 years old and an uninterrupted decrease until older ages. Also, subjects who increased their BMI by 2 kg/m2 during the 10-year period were mainly women and younger at baseline, with a lower initial BMI and total body fat in comparison with those who experienced a BMI decrease of ≥2.0 kg/m2. Conclusion: The evolutions of BMI and the estimated body compositions reported here confirm that the adverse decrease in lean body mass begins in middle age. The proportion of older subjects is important when evaluating overweight and obesity prevalence in cross-sectional studies.

Positive effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention program for family caregivers of demented elderly.

OBJECTIVE: It was to examine the effects of a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program administered to family caregivers of dementia patients. METHODS: Forty family caregivers were enrolled in a CBT intervention across eight weekly sessions. Cognitive, functional and behavioral status of patients were evaluated, as well as their own and their family caregivers' perceptions of quality of life. Specific instruments were also applied to evaluate caregiver stress level, coping, anxiety and depression. RESULTS: At the end of the program, family caregivers reported fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients and an improvement in patients' quality of life. In addition, caregivers changed their coping strategies, whereas a significant decrease was observed in their anxiety levels. CONCLUSION: The CBT program employed appears to be a promising and useful tool for clinical practice, displaying positive effects on quality of life and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, as well as proving beneficial for alleviating anxiety and stress in family caregivers.

Positive effects of a cognitive-behavioral intervention program for family caregivers of demented elderly / Efeitos positivos de um programa de intervenção cognitivo-comportamental para cuidadores familiares de idosos com demência

OBJECTIVE: It was to examine the effects of a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) program administered to family caregivers of dementia patients. METHODS: Forty family caregivers were enrolled in a CBT intervention across eight weekly sessions. Cognitive, functional and behavioral status of patients were evaluated, as well as their own and their family caregivers' perceptions of quality of life. Specific instruments were also applied to evaluate caregiver stress level, coping, anxiety and depression. RESULTS: At the end of the program, family caregivers reported fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms among patients and an improvement in patients' quality of life. In addition, caregivers changed their coping strategies, whereas a significant decrease was observed in their anxiety levels. CONCLUSION: The CBT program employed appears to be a promising and useful tool for clinical practice, displaying positive effects on quality of life and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, as well as proving beneficial for alleviating anxiety and stress in family caregivers.

OBJETIVO: Foi analisar os efeitos de um programa de intervenção de Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental (TCC) administrado a cuidadores familiares de pacientes com demência. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos 40 cuidadores familiares que participaram do programa durante oito sessões semanais. Foi avaliado o perfil cognitivo, funcional e comportamental dos pacientes, bem como sua qualidade de vida e de seus cuidadores familiares. Foram utilizados instrumentos específicos para a avaliação do nível de estresse do cuidador, estilos de enfrentamento (coping), ansiedade e depressão. RESULTADOS: Ao final do programa, os cuidadores familiares relataram diminuição dos sintomas neuropsiquiátricos nos pacientes e aumento da qualidade de vida deles. Observou-se ainda mudança no estilo de coping dos cuidadores e diminuição significativa do nível de ansiedade. CONCLUSÃO: O Programa de TCC mostrou-se instrumento útil e promissor para a prática clínica, revelando efeitos positivos na qualidade de vida e nos sintomas neuropsiquiátricos da demência, bem como promovendo alívio da ansiedade e do estresse dos cuidadores familiares.

[Single prostatic metastasis of a small cell lung carcinoma]. / Metástasis única en próstata de carcinoma microcítico pulmonar.

BACKGROUND: To make the difference between two uncommon entities, small cell prostate carcinoma and prostatic metastasis of small cell lung cancer. METHODS: We describe a case of single extrapulmonar metastasis in the prostate from small lung carcinoma. RESULTS: We describe a case of single extrapulmonar metastasis in the prostate from small lung carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and radiographic findings and inmunohistochemistry allow differential diagnosis.

DNA is more negatively supercoiled in bacterial plasmids than in minichromosomes isolated from budding yeast.

A series of circular shuttle vectors were constructed that could replicate and transcribe in the cells of both Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 2-D agarose gel electrophoresis run without or in the presence of different concentrations of chloroquine (CHL) revealed that bacterial plasmids were more negatively (-) supercoiled than minichromosomes isolated from budding yeast. Attempts to increase (-) supercoiling in S. cerevisiae or to reduce it in E. coli have deleterious biological consequences. These observations indicate that DNA supercoiling can vary in different species but cells are exquisitely sensitive to sudden changes in supercoiling. In E. coli, the observation that cell growth as well as ColE1 plasmid copy number decrease when DNA relaxes suggests that supercoiling could affect cell viability by regulating the initiation of both transcription and replication.

Terapia ocupacional e atividades socioterapêiticas: contribuindo para a circulaçäo social em saúde mental / Occupational therapy and sociotherapeutics activities: contributing to the social circulation in mental health

O autor caracteriza os conceitos de identidade e cultura, procurando precisá-los na América Latina com todas as suas contradições. Aponta assim as dificuldades dessa constituição em nosso ambiente, comprometendo a formação de nossas crianças.