Inconsistent effects of gluten on obesity: is there a role for the haptoglobin isoforms?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is no clear evidence about the effects of gluten intake on obesity. It is known that gluten's effects on gut permeability are mediated by zonulin, a protein identified as pre-haptoglobin 2, a physiological regulator of the intestinal barrier. We investigated the obesogenic and inflammatory effects of gluten and its association with the haptoglobin genotype. METHODS: This was a single blinded, crossover study, including 40 overweight or obesity women free of celiac disease. Participants adopted a gluten-free diet (GFD) for 8 weeks and consumed a gluten-free muffin (GF-M) or a gluten-containing muffin (GLU-M, 24 g gluten) for 4 weeks, switching muffin type during the subsequent 4 weeks. During a follow-up period of 4 weeks we evaluated the usual diet (UD). Food diaries were collected to estimate the macronutrient intake and dietary inflammatory index (DII®). Bodyweight and composition, resting energy expenditure (REE), and cytokines were assessed. Haptoglobin alleles (Hp1 and Hp2) were genotyped to characterize zonulin expression. RESULTS: Energy and macronutrient intakes were similar during both periods, except for protein intake, which was higher during GLU-M. DII scores indicated a more inflammatory profile during the GF-M and GLU-M periods compared to UD. No differences were observed in body composition or REE between interventions when the Hp genotype was not considered. Nonetheless, those carrying the Hp2-2 genotype (overexpressing zonulin) presented lower REE and higher levels of IL6 and IL1beta only during gluten intake (GLU-M and UD) compared to age- and body mass index-matched Hp1-1 carrier. These results suggest an obesogenic and inflammatory action of gluten only in those overexpressing zonulin (Hp2-2). CONCLUSION: These results highlight the importance of zonulin as the mediator of gluten obesogenic and inflammatory effects. Our data suggest that in the presence of gluten, zonulin release is associated with a reduction of REE and an increase of inflammatory markers that are not seen in zonulin low producers.

HBV/HDV co-infection in the Western Brazilian Amazonia: an intriguing mutation among HDV genotype 3 carriers.

HDV infection still remains a serious public health problem in Amazonia. There are few data regarding the biomolecular aspects of HBV/HDV co-infection in this region. We studied 92 patients HBsAg(+) /anti-HDV IgG(+) followed at the Hepatitis Referral Centers of Porto Velho (RO), Rio Branco and Cruzeiro do Sul (AC), Brazil, from March 2006 to March 2007 for whom the HDV and/or the HBV genotype could be determined. The HDV genotype could be determined in 90 patients, while the HBV genotypes could be positively determined in 74. HBV subgenotype F2 is the most prevalent (40.2%), followed by the subgenotypes A1 (15.2%) and D3 (8.7%), while 16.4% were other subgenotypes or genotypes, 4.3% were discordant and 15.2% were unamplifiable. Surprisingly, HDV genotype 3 (HDV-3) was found in all of the HBV/HDV-infected patients that could be genotyped for HDV, confirming that HDV-3 can associate with non-F HBV genotypes. However, a HDV-3 mutant was found in 29.3% of patients and was more frequently associated with non-F HBV genotypes (P < 0.001) than were nonmutant strains, suggesting that the mutation may facilitate association of HDV-3 with non-F HBV genotypes.

Immunological/virological peripheral blood biomarkers and distinct patterns of sleeping quality in chronic hepatitis C patients.

The rational of this study we intended to investigate whether the peripheral blood immunological/virological biomarkers were associated with distinct patterns of sleeping quality in patients with chronic hepatitis C-(HCV). Distinct well-established indexes/scores were used to categorize the sleeping quality of HCV patients, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Fatigue Severity Scores. Our findings demonstrated that HCV patients classified as 'good sleeper' displayed an enhanced frequency of circulating CD8(+) T cells, lower frequency of activated (CD69(+)) neutrophils and eosinophils but enhanced frequency of activated lymphocytes besides lower seric levels of IL-4/IL-8/IL-10 but higher levels of IL-12, besides lower HCV virus load and lower anti-HCV IgG levels. In contrast, HCV patients classified as 'poor sleeper' displayed enhanced levels of activated neutrophils and eosinophils but lower frequency of activated lymphocytes, higher seric levels of IL-6/TNF-α/IL-10 but lower levels of IL-12 besides higher HCV virus load and increased anti-HCV IgG levels. Positive correlation was further confirmed by the relationship between the leucocyte activation status, the cytokine levels, the HCV viral load and the anti-HCV IgG reactivity with the PSQI indexes. Analysis of cytokine signature curves demonstrated that lower frequency of IL-10 was observed in HCV patients classified as 'good sleepers', whereas enhanced frequency of IL-6 was found HCV patients classified as 'poor sleepers'. In conclusion, our data suggest that immunological biomarkers (leucocytes activation status and seric cytokines levels) are likely to be associated with sleeping quality patterns in HCV patients, suggesting their putative use for clinical monitoring purposes.

Reentrant isotropic-calamitic nematic phase transition in potassium laurate-decanol- D2O mixtures.

The phase diagram is an interesting field of research, particularly in lyotropic liquid crystals (LLC). In this way, one of the most important phase diagrams of this LLC system was reported by Yu and Saupe. Two uniaxial (calamitic--N(C) and discotic--N(D)) and one biaxial nematic (N(B)) phases were determined by these authors. Furthermore, in this phase diagram the classical isotropic phase (I was observed at high temperature as well as a reentrant isotropic phase (I(RE)) which takes place at lower temperature. Later, this phase diagram was also studied by several authors and in all cases the I(RE)-N(C)-I phase transitions were not observed. In this work, we present a study of this phase diagram through digital image processing and refractometry optical techniques. The occurrence of these phase transitions is investigated and characterized. In addition, the order parameter is obtained based on the Vuks hypothesis from a particular point, in the range of the N(C) phase, where the absolute value of the optical birefringence (Deltan is maximum.

Ultrastructure of Babesia WA1 (Apicomplexa: Piroplasma) during infection of erythrocytes in a hamster model.

Babesia Washington-1 (WA1) is a newly identified intraerythrocyte infectious agent of human babesiosis in the western United States. The purpose of the present study is to describe the ultrastructural changes in affected erythrocytes during the infectious process in a susceptible animal model, the golden Syrian hamster. Two, 1-mo-old female hamsters were inoculated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 1.8 x 10(9) Babesia WA1-infected erythrocytes originally isolated from a human case and serially passaged in hamsters. Saphenous vein blood samples (20 microl) were collected at 0, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, and 96 hr postinoculation (PI). Parasitemia was determined at each time interval by quick staining of blood smears showing 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 12.5, 22.5, 70, and almost 100% parasitemic erythrocytes at the corresponding PI time interval, respectively. Animals showed weakness and dehydration 72 hr PI inoculation, and were killed by 96 hr PI. Selected blood samples from 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr were fixed in cacodylate buffer, dehydrated in ethanol gradients, resin embedded, and then thin sectioned and stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate for transmission electron microscopy or gold-coated for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Shape and surface membrane changes in erythrocytes were demonstrated by SEM and were more evident at 72 and 96 hr PI. Infected erythrocytes underwent changes in shape 24 hr PI, from few protrusions to several perforations, some of them resembling a "swiss cheese" appearance 96 hr PI. Several erythrocytes had irregular surface membranes and Babesia WA1 organisms were seen at different stages of development within erythrocytes, from single trophozoites to several merozoites (young trophozoites), some of them dividing to form typical tetrads. In general, Babesia WAI induced severe morphological changes in the erythrocytes, and these changes were more evident in almost all infected cells 96 hr PI.

Bend and splay elastic constants at a reentrant isotropic-calamitic-nematic phase transition.

By measuring the ratio between the major and minor axes of closed elliptical loops created by a magnetic field, the ratio between the bend (K33) and splay (K11) elastic constants of a lyotropic mixture of potassium laurate, decanol, and water in the calamitic nematic phase is measured as a function of temperature. Since these systems present two nematic-isotropic phase transitions--the usual one, at high temperatures, and a reentrant one, at low temperatures--such measurements are used to compare the behavior of these elastic constants at the neighborhoods of these two distinct regions, which have in common the vanishing of the order parameter. The experimental data have revealed the existence of two elastic constant branches, characterizing a distinct low- and high-temperature behavior. To explain such asymmetry we support that, because of the lyotropic nature of the compound, the micellar variation, which is mainly responsible for the reentrant phase, plays a distinct role at these two phase transitions.

[The occurrence of hepatitis B and delta virus infection within seven Amerindian ethnic groups in the Brazilian western Amazon]. / Ocorrência da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B (VHB) e delta (VHD) em sete grupos indígenas do Estado do Amazonas.

HBV and HDV infections are a major health problem in the Amazon. This study evaluates the prevalence of these viruses within Indians groups, measuring the frequency of serological markers. The prevalence of past infection was 54.5% and HBsAg was found in 9.7%. An important variation of those markers was detected between villages, inclusively within the same ethnic group. None showed evidence of an acute infection. All HBeAg reactive were Apurinã, living in the same village and three of them from the same family. The prevalence of anti-HDT was 13.4% in HBsAg positive individuals. The authors observed high prevalence of HBV and HDV infection with the following pattern: low degree of infectivity, marked transmission in early ages, intra-familial dissemination, and lack of importance of vertical transmission. However, the results suggest that these viruses were not yet introduced effectively in some of the studied groups.

Ocorrência da infecção pelo vírus da hepatite B (VHB) e delta (VHD) em sete grupos indígenas do Estado do Amazonas / The occurrence of hepatitis B and delta virus infection within seven Amerindian ethnic groups in the Brazilian western Amazon

HBV and HDV infections are a major health problem in the Amazon. This study evaluates the prevalence of these viruses within Indians groups, measuring the frequency of serological markers. The prevalence of past infection was 54.5% and HBsAg was found in 9.7%. An important variation of those markers was detected between villages, inclusively within the same ethnic group. None showed evidence of an acute infection. All HBeAg reactive were Apurinã, living in the same village and three of them from the same family. The prevalence of anti-HDT was 13.4% in HBsAg positive individuals. The authors observed high prevalence of HBV and HDV infection with the following pattern: low degree of infectivity, marked transmission in early ages, intra-familial dissemination, and lack of importance of vertical transmission. However, the results suggest that these viruses were not yet introduced effectively in some of the studied groups.

A infecção pelo VHB e VHD são importantes problemas de saúde na Amazônia. Este estudo avalia a prevalência da infecção por esses agentes em sete grupos indígenas do Estado do Amazonas. A taxa de infecção passada pelo VHB encontrada foi de 54,5% e a de portadores do AgHBs de 9,7%. Observa-se variação importante destes marcadores entre as aldeias, inclusive da mesma etnia. Não evidenciamos marcador de infecção aguda, os quatro AgHBe reativos eram todos Apurinã, da mesma aldeia, e três da mesma família. O VHD foi encontrado em 13,4% dos AgHBs reativos. O padrão de infecção pelo VHB e VHD encontrado possui as seguintes características: endemicidade elevada, baixo potencial de infectividade, transmissão marcada em idade precoce, provável transmissão familiar, e pouca importância da transmissão vertical. Entretanto, também sugere que esses vírus não tenham sido ainda introduzidos efetivamente em algumas das etnias estudadas

[Giant insulinoma]. / Insulinoma gigante.

The authors present a case report of hypoglycemic tumor (insulinoma) of the pancreas. The tumor had benign histology and the greatest volume among the tumors of this type described in the literature.

Controle e prevencao do saturnismo. / Saturnism: control and prevention

Foram estudados 266 trabalhadores do Setor de Patenteamento da Divisao de Trefilaria da Cia Siderurgica Belgo Mineira, no periodo de 1970 a 1980, encontrando-se 90 casos de saturnismo desde manifestacoes iniciais de intoxicacao ate formas avancadas. O autor enfatiza a importancia das medidas preventivas, da Engenharia Industrial, as quais se fundamentam na reducao do arrastamento de chumbo pelo arame patenteado e na eliminacao da poeira ao nivel dos enroladores. Valoriza as manifestacoes clinicas para o diagnostico da intoxicacao pelo chumbo e recorre a exames complementares como a determinacao da CP-U e ALA-U, alem do hemograma completo, com contagem dos reticulocitos e pesquisa de granulacoes basofilas nas hematias, e bioquimica de sangue. Comenta a reducao dos casos de saturnismo na Trefilaria, nos ultimos cinco anos, e coloca a Medicina do Trabalho como complemento importante na prevencao da intoxicacao industrial pelo chumbo