Anti-Inflammatory Local Effect of Hydroxytyrosol Combined with Pectin-Alginate and Olive Oil on Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid-Induced Colitis in Wistar Rats.

Purpose: Evaluate the efficacy of hydroxytyrosol in the local treatment of inflammatory colitis. Currently, the existing treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases does not cure the disease and it is associated with high rates of side effects and complications. Hydroxytyrosol is a phenyl-ethyl-alcohol derived from the hydrolysis of oleuropein and present in olive oil, previous studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of dietary hydroxytyrosol supplement, with no toxicity. Materials & Methods: Colitis has been induced by using Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid at 40 rats. They were divided into four groups randomly: 10 rats without treatment; 10 rats with pectin/alginate mixture; 10 rats treated with pectin/alginate + olive oil; 10 rats treated with pectin/alginate + olive oil + hydroxytyrosol. Animals were sacrificed 10 days after induction of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, receiving 5 days of continuous treatment. Samples of the rectal area were studied and observed under a microscope to determine the damage by Hunter scoring modified, assessing inflammatory infiltration, number of intestinal walls involved, damage to the mucosal architecture, and edema. Results: When the rectum was analyzed in a global way, nonsignificant differences were observed; however, when performing an individualized analysis, statistically significant differences in the inflammatory infiltrate are present in the samples, which were evaluated using the ANOVA and Student-T statistics. Conclusions: Local treatment with the natural antioxidant hydroxytyrosol combined with pectin/alginate and olive oil of inflammatory bowel disease has been shown to be effective against inflammatory infiltration of TNBS-induced colitis.

Mexican consensus on lysosomal acid lipase deficiency diagnosis. / Consenso mexicano sobre el diagnóstico de la deficiencia de lipasa ácida lisosomal.

INTRODUCTION: Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D) causes progressive cholesteryl ester and triglyceride accumulation in the lysosomes of hepatocytes and monocyte-macrophage system cells, resulting in a systemic disease with various manifestations that may go unnoticed. It is indispensable to recognize the deficiency, which can present in patients at any age, so that specific treatment can be given. The aim of the present review was to offer a guide for physicians in understanding the fundamental diagnostic aspects of LAL-D, to successfully aid in its identification. METHODS: The review was designed by a group of Mexican experts and is presented as an orienting algorithm for the pediatrician, internist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, geneticist, pathologist, radiologist, and other specialists that could come across this disease in their patients. An up-to-date review of the literature in relation to the clinical manifestations of LAL-D and its diagnosis was performed. The statements were formulated based on said review and were then voted upon. The structured quantitative method employed for reaching consensus was the nominal group technique. RESULTS: A practical algorithm of the diagnostic process in LAL-D patients was proposed, based on clinical and laboratory data indicative of the disease and in accordance with the consensus established for each recommendation. CONCLUSION: The algorithm provides a sequence of clinical actions from different studies for optimizing the diagnostic process of patients suspected of having LAL-D.

Life-history plasticity in female threespine stickleback.

The postglacial adaptive radiation of the threespine stickleback fish (Gasterosteus aculeatus) has been widely used to investigate the roles of both adaptive evolution and plasticity in behavioral and morphological divergence from the ancestral condition represented by present-day oceanic stickleback. These phenotypes tend to exhibit high levels of ecotypic differentiation. Population divergence in life history has also been well studied, but in contrast to behavior and morphology, the extent and importance of plasticity has been much less well studied. In this review, we summarize what is known about life-history plasticity in female threespine stickleback, considering four traits intimately associated with reproductive output: age/size at maturation, level of reproductive effort, egg size and clutch size. We envision life-history plasticity in an iterative, ontogenetic framework, in which females may express plasticity repeatedly across each of several time frames. We contrast the results of laboratory and field studies because, for most traits, these approaches give somewhat different answers. We provide ideas on what the cues might be for observed plasticity in each trait and, when possible, we inquire about the relative costs and benefits to expressed plasticity. We end with an example of how we think plasticity may play out in stickleback life history given what we know of plasticity in the ancestor.

[Primary and re-arthroplasty of the hip or knee joints in patients 80 years of age and older].

Due to the ageing of the population, more and more patients older than 80 years are in need of the hip and knee joints total endoprosthesis. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe perioperative mortality and frequency of complications associated with both primary and re-arthroplasty of hip and knee joints in this age group. For more information about demography, the perioperational period and frequency of complications were investigated 59 patient's card, who have had a 71 endoprosthesis operations, carried out by one surgeon. Information on mortality was obtained by means of telephone interviewing. The average level of mortality within 30 days, 1 year and 5 years amounted to 2.0, 6.1 and 10.2% respectively. Compared with other studies conducted over the past 20 years, these results reflect a significant reduction in the mortality, rate. Average frequency of complications in our study was to 52.2%. which corresponds to the previously published data. All the complications were eliminated and did not cause permanent disability. Thanks to the development of anaesthesia, surgical techniques and technologies, joint endoprosthetics can be considered safe in patients older than 80 years.

Patterns and prevalence of disordered eating and weight control behaviors in women ages 25-45.

OBJECTIVE: The current study describes detailed eating behaviors, dieting behaviors, and attitudes about shape and weight in 4023 women ages 25 to 45. METHOD: The survey was delivered on-line and participants were identified using a national quota-sampling procedure. RESULTS: Disordered eating behaviors, extreme weight loss measures, and negative cognitions about shape and weight were widely endorsed by women in this age group and were not limited to White participants. Thirty-one percent of women without a history of anorexia nervosa or binge eating reported having purged to control weight, and 74.5% of women reported that their concerns about shape and weight interfered with their happiness. DISCUSSION: Unhealthy approaches to weight control and negative attitudes about shape and weight are pervasive even among women without eating disorders. The development of effective approaches to address the impact of these unhealthy behaviors and attitudes on the general well-being and functioning of women is required.

Corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis in children: outcome after two-year follow-up, risk factors, densitometric predictive cut-off values for vertebral fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors that contribute to a decreased Z score of volumetric spine bone mineral density (ZvSBMD) and the development of vertebral fractures (VF) in children receiving chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy (SCT); to describe their outcome after 2 years, and to define predictive threshold values for ZvSBMD for VF. METHODS: Fifty-five children on SCT for >or= 6 months were prospectively followed for 2 years. In children with a ZvSBMD > -1.5, we prescribed preventive measures for osteoporosis and densitometry annually. In children with ZvSBMD

Influence of prenatal cocaine exposure on full-term infant neurobehavioral functioning.

This study investigated infant neurobehavioral functioning during the newborn period in 334 full-term, African American neonates (187 cocaine exposed, 147 non-cocaine exposed) enrolled prospectively at birth, with documentation of drug exposure status through maternal interview and urine and meconium toxicology assays. Infants were assessed using the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) during the newborn period (0-6 postnatal days). Findings from multivariate profile analyses support a consistent, modest effect of prenatal cocaine exposure on neurobehavioral functioning in full-term neonates. All of the BNBAS cluster scores, with the exception of abnormal reflexes, were similarly affected, sharing a common slope (D=-0.14; 95% CI=-0.27, -0.003; P=.046) representing a -0.14 point difference between cocaine-exposed and non-cocaine-exposed infants after controlling for prenatal exposure to alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana (ATM); maternal age, education, employment, primigravida status, and prenatal care visits; and infant sex and postnatal age in days. Fetal growth was also related to neurobehavioral functioning and, in part, mediated the relationship between cocaine exposure and the BNBAS cluster scores. Cocaine exposure during each trimester similarly influenced infant neurobehavioral profiles, with cocaine-associated deficits most pronounced in infants with exposure in all three trimesters. Results from qualitative and quantitative urine and meconium bioassay indicators further substantiated these results. Findings, while significant, represent modest effect sizes in full-term infants.

[Measurement of 17 OH progesterone in blood in Chilean newborns: antecedents for implementing a grogram for the neonatal detection of congenital adrenal hyperplasia]. / Medición de 17-OH progesterona sanguínea en recién nacidos chilenos: antecedentes para implementar un programa de detección neonatal de hiperplasia suprarrenal congénita.

BACKGROUND: The early diagnosis and therapy of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency can prevent adrenal crises and erroneous gender assignment in affected newborns. To achieve this goal neonatal mass-screening programs have been developed, measuring blood 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP). In Chile there is no experience with this type of screening. AIM: To develop a method for measuring 17OHP in filter paper blood specimens. To obtain reference ranges and determine neonatal 17OHP threshold levels according to gestational age and birth weight. To analyze factors affecting the cost-efficiency ratio and suggest recommendations for the organization of a neonatal screening program for CAH in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine hundred twenty two newborns were studied. 17OHP was measured using double antibody radioimmunoassay in filter paper blood samples obtained 48 h after birth. Reference ranges were determined according to gestational age and birth weight and a cutoff point of 25 ng/ml was established. RESULTS: Seventeen newborns had 17OHP over the cutoff value. They were assessed by a pediatric endocrinologist and in none of them, CAH was confirmed. Therefore the false positive rate of the determination was 1.8%. Among these newborns with elevated 17OHP, 66% had a birth weight below 1.5 kg and 5.8%, a birth weight between 1.5 and 2.5 kg. The cost per reported result was US $ 1. Timing of the recall was between the 3 and 10 days of life. No newborn missed the follow-up. DISCUSSION: To increase the cost-efficiency ratio of an eventual neonatal screening program, newborns with birth weights below 1.5 kg should be excluded and cutoff points should be defined according to birth weight (Rev Méd Chile 2000; 128: 1113-18).

Association of sunlight exposure and photoprotection measures with clinical outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus.

This study was designed to explore the relationship of sunlight exposure and ultraviolet (UV) light protection measures with clinical outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A structured questionnaire was administered to sixty Puerto Rican SLE patients, to assess their attitudes and behavior regarding sunlight exposure and photoprotection measures. Medical records were reviewed to evaluate the clinical outcome measures that included: clinical manifestations, number of SLE-related hospitalizations, number of exacerbations and pharmacologic treatment. Almost all (98.3%) patients were well acquainted of sunlight effects on disease activity. Two thirds were exposed to direct sunlight for an average of less than one hour per day and 33.3% for one hour or more. Thirty patients (50%) reported use of sunscreen, with sun protective factor of 15 or greater, when exposed to sunlight. Less than 40% of patients regularly wore hat or long-sleeves clothes to protect from sunlight. Although there were some clinical differences between the groups with different sunlight exposure times, none reached statistical significance. Also, no significant differences were found between the groups in regards to sunlight protective clothes. However, patients that regularly used sunscreen had significantly lower renal involvement (13.3 vs 43.3%), thrombocytopenia (13.3 vs 40%), hospitalizations (26.7 vs. 76.7%), and requirement of cyclophosphamide treatment (6.7 vs. 30%) than patients that did not used it (P < 0.05). We conclude that use of sunscreen photoprotection was associated with a better clinical outcome in our SLE patients. These findings further support the importance and benefits of photoprotective measures in patients with SLE.

[Determination of the tumor necrosis factor in the peritoneal fluid of gynecologic patients with intraperitoneal infections and endometriosis]. / Determinación del factor de necrosis tumoral en líquido peritoneal de pacientes ginecológicas con infecciones intraperitoneales y endometriosis.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine which can be found in peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a response of inflammatory disorder and infections diseases. The cytotoxic effect of this cytokine could be participating in the pathology of different gynecologic problem and be accountable of the high immunological response and damage on the tubal epithelium. The objective of this study was determinate the presence of TNF-alpha in PF of endometriosis patients, fallopian tube occlusion (FTO) and PID and their correlation with different isolated bacteria. Ten mililiter PF were collected and cultured in antificial medium and Mc Coy culture cells for isolation of acrobic, and anaerobic bacteria and Chlamydia trachomatis from 73 patients by laparoscopy. The TNF-alpha activity was determined by L-929 cells endometriosis, 30 PID and 4 had miomas and adherences. The 50.7% of patients were cultive positive, fom these, 31.5% were PID. Chlamydia trachomatis (16%) was the most frecuenty isolated bacteria in these patients. 59.4% of FTO patients displayed TNF-alpha activity. However, only 4% showed positive isolation, in conclusion the detection of TNF-alpha could be useful in active infectious and inflammatory diseases in patients which not present simptomatologic characteristic of these illnesses and plus being attended at for sterility clinical as a result of their incapacity to get pregnant.

Tumor necrosis factor in peritoneal fluid from asymptomatic infertile women.

BACKGROUND: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine that can be found in the peritoneal fluid (PF) of patients with endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) as a response to inflammatory disorders and infections. The cytotoxic effect of this cytokine could be a factor participating in the pathology of various gynecological diseases, and could also be accountable for the high immunological response and damage to the tubal epithelium. The objective of this study was to establish the presence of TNF-alpha in asymptomatic infertility and its association with various isolated bacteria. METHODS: Ten milliliters of PF were collected from each of 73 patients by means of laparoscopy and cultured in synthetic medium and McCoy cells for the isolation of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, as well as for Chlamydia trachomatis. The activity of TNF-alpha was determined by means of a bioassay using L-929 cells. RESULTS: Forty-three percent of the PFs showed positive TNF-alpha activity, while the laparoscopic evaluation showed that 32 patients had Fallopian tube occlusion (FTO), 7 had endometriosis, 30 had PID, and 4 had myomas and adhesions. TNF-alpha activity was found to be high in FTO patients (p < 0.05). Positive cultures were found in 50.7% of patients; of these, 31.5% had PID (p < 0.05), and only 20.5% of positive cultures were TNF-alpha positive. Chlamydia trachomatis (16%) was the most frequently isolated bacteria in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The detection of TNF-alpha could be useful in the diagnosis of active infectious and inflammatory diseases in asymptomatic infertile patients.

Electromyographic analysis of the shoulder muscles during depression transfers in subjects with low-level paraplegia.

OBJECTIVE: To document and compare the intensity of selected shoulder muscle activity during depression transfers. DESIGN: Intramuscular electrodes were used to record the activity of 12 shoulder muscles while transferring to and from a wheelchair. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve adult men with spinal cord injuries resulting in low paraplegia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Three phases of the transfer were analyzed: preparation, lift, and descent. Median intensities were compared between muscles, transfer phase, and direction of transfer using Freidman's test. RESULTS: Trunk elevation was accomplished mainly by sternal pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi activity. Lateral body displacement required other muscles to control the elevated body. Rotator cuff muscles contributed to shift mechanics and, together with anterior deltoid, provided anterior glenohumeral wall protection. Lower serratus anterior stabilized the scapulothoracic articulation and contributed to the lateral movement. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of depression transfer skill should not be based on the ability to lift body weight. Movement of the trunk required vigorous activity of key shoulder musculature. Differences in leading and trailing arm EMG intensities will assist in modifying transfer style in individuals with weakness, strength imbalances, and shoulder pathologies.

Electromyographic analysis of shoulder muscles of men with low-level paraplegia during a weight relief raise.

The purpose of this study was to define the demand on the shoulder musculature during performance of a weight relief raise. Intramuscular electromyographic activity of 12 shoulder muscles was recorded in 13 pain-free subjects with paraplegia while elevating the trunk from a sitting position. Upper extremity motion was determined by elbow electrogoniometry and video recordings. Three phases of the raise were analyzed: initial loading, lift, and hold. During the lift phase, high level triceps long head activity (54% manual muscle test [MMT]) produced elbow extension, whereas moderate- to high-level activity of the sternal pectoralis major (32% MMT) and latissimus dorsi (58% MMT) elevated the trunk on the fixed humerus. Deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, middle trapezius, serratus anterior, and biceps long head played minimal roles (< 25% MMT). Thoracohumeral muscle activity, by transferring the load on the humerus directly to the trunk, functionally circumvented the glenohumeral joint. This would reduce the potential for impingement of the rotator cuff.

Vitamin C status, cervico-vaginal infection and premature rupture of amniotic membranes.

A prospective study to evaluate the role of vitamin C and cervico-vaginal infection in the premature rupture of amniotic membranes (PROM) was designed. The leukocyte vitamin C levels of 44 pregnant women that did not consume vitamin supplements was evaluated at weeks 20, 28 and 32 of pregnancy. On each evaluation the presence of cervico-vaginal infection was diagnosed and treated. The leukocyte vitamin C level throughout gestation showed a decrease towards week 28 and then it recovered at the end of pregnancy. Six of every ten women had normal flora in their vaginal secretion cultures. Eleven cases had PROM (0.24), no association was found between cervico-vaginal infection and PROM. The leukocyte vitamin C levels on week 20 of gestation showed an association with PROM. (chi 2 = 6.34, p < 0.05, odds ratio 6.75 [CI 1.26-26.03]).

[Utility of the Papanicolaou smear in the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis]. / Utilidad del frotis de Papanicolaou en el diagnóstico de vaginosis bacteriana.

In 200 studied patients there was a sensitivity of 49% and specificity of 100%; bacterial vaginosis incidence was 17.7%; the probability of false negatives was 73%. So, Papanicolaou's smear is not an adequate method for bacterial vaginosis diagnosis, but the negative result, excludes the possibility of disease.

[Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in a group of adolescents attending a perinatal care institute]. / Enfermedades transmitidas sexualmente (ETS) en un grupo de adolescentes que asisten a un Instituto de Atención Perinatal.

To start an active sexual activity at an earlier age and with a larger number of partners, has arousen the frequency of sexually transmitted diseases (STS). The teenagers are a group particularly affected. The objective of this article is to report the etiology of STD in a group of teenagers, out-patients at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia (INPer). The study includes 1360 patients at the clinic of STD at the INPer, 8.5 percent were less than 20 years old; 18.9 percent of them had previously a STD. The most frequent pathology was cervicovaginitis and the most frequently isolated pathogens were Candida sp, Gardnerella vaginalis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. There were no cases of gonorrhea. Three patients had Immunodeficiency Syndrome.

[Etiology of cervicovaginal infection in pregnant and non-pregnant patients]. / Etiología de la infección cervicovaginal en pacientes embarazadas y no embarazadas.

A prospective study to evaluate the prevalence of specific microorganisms in pregnant and nonpregnant women with cervicovaginitis attended at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología, was done; Candida sp, Gardnerella vaginalis, Replasma urealitycum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Group B Streptococcus, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae were investigated. Two hundred thirty four patients were studied, 105/234 (44.9%) pregnant and 129/234 (55.1%) nonpregnant women, with a mean age of 26.5 years (range 14 to 44 years). One hundred eighty one (77.5%) women had only one sexual partner. The most common microorganisms seen were Candida sp (31.6%), Gardnerella vaginalis (27.7) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (15.8%). Infection by Chlamydia trachomatis was documented in 9.8% of the population. Trichomonas vaginalis was identified in 1.7%, there was not any case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection. Candida sp and Ureaplasma urealyticum were founded more frequent in the pregnant women than nonpregnant women, 41.9% vs. 24.8% (p less than 0.01) and 20% vs. 12.4% (p less than 0.05) respectively. Group B Streptococci was isolated as a single agent in 4.8% in pregnant women. There were not found any pathogenic microorganisms in 29.9% of the cases, as a causal agent of symptomatic cervicovaginitis.