Omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in red blood cell membrane are associated with xerostomia and taste loss in patients with breast cancer.

Chemosensory and physical complaints are common disorders in cancer patients under chemotherapy treatments that may affect the food intake, leading to a decreased quality of life. Lipid metabolism is a major pathway of cancer proliferation, where erythrocyte membrane phospholipids and their fatty acid composition are promising tools for monitoring metabolic pathways. Relationship between lipid profile in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids and chemosensory alterations in 44 newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer was here investigated. Smell changes and xerostomia were the most common complaints, with xerostomia as the main influencing factor on the development of other taste disorders. Lipid profiles revealed significant negative correlation between diminution of linoleic acid levels and xerostomia as well as positive correlation between increased arachidonic acid and salty taste. The involvement of these polyunsaturated lipids suggests the importance of oxidative and nutritional conditions of cancer patients, which can affect the molecular status for taste signals.

Immunocytochemical localization of allergenic proteins in Parietaria judaica L. (Urticaceae) pollen grains.

Inhalation of pollen grains and fungal spores leads to allergenic rhinitis and type I asthma mediated by IgE. The etiology of these conditions is due to the presence of substances that can induce anaphylactic processes in susceptible subjects. A combination of transmission electron microscopy with immunocytochemical methods was used to localize allergenic proteins in Parietaria judaica L. (Urticaceae) pollen grains. Germination of pollen grains was induced in vitro for 10 and 30 min to activate proteins in the intine and in material exuded from the pollen grains that are related to pollen-stigma recognition; these activated proteins would be the ones that react with the antibodies. The activation time, labeling intensity and specificity of the antigens depended on whether IgG (rabbit) or IgE (allergenic patient) was used. Abundant, non-specific labeling was observed with rabbit IgG. The labeling observed with human IgE was located more specifically in the intine (oncus) at random points near the apertures. The immunolocalization of allergenic proteins in the intine indicates the presence of proteins related to activation of the pollen grains. This fact confirms the function attributed to the intine in the processes of pollen tube formation and fertilization, and also the possible mechanism that is activated in the pollen grains when these reach the mucosa of sensitive subjects. In the case of P. judaica, the existence of a thickening of the intine below the apertures (oncus) and the release of its contents in an explosive fashion seem to be the main causes of their strong allergenic activity.

Impact of orthodontics on the psychologic profile of adult patients: a prospective study.

Considerable controversies exist about the psychologic repercussions of malocclusions on affected persons and the positive effect of treatment on patients' body image and self-concept. This report describes a longitudinal prospective study of 40 adult patients with moderate to severe malocclusions who underwent conventional orthodontic treatment. All subjects completed a series of psychological questionnaires at three different measurement intervals: (1) before the start of treatment, (2) 6 months afterwards, and (3) from 1 to 4 weeks after the end of active treatment. For most personality variables including self-esteem, the mean pretreatment values were normal. Mean values of both overall and facial body image were lower than normal and improved significantly after treatment. Overall body image improvement was noticeable from 6 months after the start of treatment, whereas facial body image did not improve until the discontinuation of the orthodontic appliances. Self-esteem did not change over time. Changes in some 16PF factors that deserve further analysis were observed. The positive effect of orthodontics on body image is encouraging but longer follow-up is needed to evaluate the persistence of results and the eventual occurrence of any late changes in self esteem.

Colangiografia intraoperatoria con placa de contacto. / Intraoperative cholangiography with contact plaque

Se analizan las ventajas observadas mediante la aplicacion de la colangiografia de contacto, oclusal o regional; se aconseja su incorporacion como metodo de estudio intraoperatorio del coledoco terminal, fundamentado en la mayor nitidez de sus imagenes y en la exactitud de sus rasgos anatomicos