Micronutrient content and antioxidant enzyme activities in human breast milk.

Breast milk contains micronutrients that function as cofactors of antioxidant enzymes. High concentrations of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) can increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This study aimed to assess the relationship between the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)) and the concentration of the micronutrients Fe, Cu and zinc (Zn) in breast milk. Breast milk samples were collected from 108 mothers (7-10 days postpartum, transitional milk). The samples were grouped into three groups according to the number of pregnancies (one, two and three or more pregnancies), also grouped according to the body mass index (BMI) suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) in underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese. Breast milk Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes was determined by spectrophotometry. An increase in GPx, SOD and GST activities in relation to the number of pregnancies was found (p = 0.05, p = 0.04 and p < 0.01, respectively). An inverse relationship between GST activity and BMI was found (p = 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between Cu and Zn concentrations (r = 0.52, p < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between Cu concentration and catalase activity (r = -0.22, p < 0.05); Fe content was negatively correlated with GPx and GST activities (r = -0.32, r = -0.22, respectively, p < 0.05). The activities of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, SOD and GST) may be affected by the number of pregnancies and contribute to prevent oxidation of nutritional molecules in breast milk.

Oxidative stress in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, characterized by articular inflammation. Oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species has been related to the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis in several studies, although results have been inconsistent and contradictory. OBJECTIVE: To determine oxidative stress markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study in rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls. In peripheral blood samples from all study subjects, lipid peroxide (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and protein carbonyl levels were quantified as oxidative damage markers; superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, glutathione concentration, and the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio were analyzed as antioxidant defense indicators. Mann-Whitney U tests were run. Statistical significance (a) was 0.05%. RESULTS: We included 29 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 10 with active disease, and 41 healthy controls. Age was higher in the rheumatoid arthritis group; there were no differences in female:male ratio between groups. Oxidative damage was higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients; however, there was no difference between patients with active or inactive rheumatoid arthritis. Antioxidant enzyme activities, glutathione concentration, and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio were higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant levels were higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients than in healthy controls; however, they were insufficient to prevent oxidative damage. This suggests an active oxidative process in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Update of the Mexican College of Rheumatology guidelines for the pharmacologic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The pharmacologic management of rheumatoid arthritis has progressed substantially over the past years. It is therefore desirable that existing information be periodically updated. There are several published international guidelines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis that hardly adapt to the Mexican health system because of its limited healthcare resources. Hence, it is imperative to unify the existing recommendations and to incorporate them to a set of clinical, updated recommendations; the Mexican College of Rheumatology developed these recommendations in order to offer an integral management approach of rheumatoid arthritis according to the resources of the Mexican health system. OBJECTIVE: To review, update and improve the available evidence within clinical practice guidelines on the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis and produce a set of recommendations adapted to the Mexican health system, according to evidence available through December 2012. METHODS: The working group was composed of 30 trained and experienced rheumatologists with a high quality of clinical knowledge and judgment. Recommendations were based on the highest quality evidence from the previously established treatment guidelines, meta-analysis and controlled clinical trials for the adult population with rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS: During the conformation of this document, each working group settled the existing evidence from the different topics according to their experience. Finally, all the evidence and decisions were unified into a single document, treatment algorithm and drug standardization tables. CONCLUSIONS: This update of the Mexican Guidelines for the Pharmacologic Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis provides the highest quality information available at the time the working group undertook this review and contextualizes its use for the complex Mexican health system.

[Lipid peroxidation and the response of the antioxidant defense system in the obese type 2 diabetic compared with the non-obese type 2 diabetic]. / Peroxidación de lípidos y la respuesta del sistema de defensa antioxidante en el diabético tipo 2 obeso en comparación al diabético tipo 2 sin obesidad.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes is associated with increased lipid peroxidation, quantified as the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). In parallel, the antioxidant defense system (ADS) reacts to diminish the oxidative damage. OBJECTIVE: To determine the levels of lipid peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in obese type 2 diabetic (DM2) individuals compared to non-obese DM2 individuals. METHODS: Lipid peroxidation was quantified by measuring TBARS and the ADS response by measuring the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). RESULTS: Two groups of 30 subjects were studied. The obese DM2 group had a mean body mass index (BMI) 38.6 ± 3.5 kg m(-2) compared to the control group 24.7 ± 3.6 kg m(-2) (p<0.01). TBARS levels in the study group were higher compared to the control group (p <0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis suggested that activities of SOD and CAT adjusted to lipid peroxidation (TBARS) in the obese DM2 individuals. CONCLUSION: TBARS levels suggest greater oxidative damage in obese DM2 subjects with a diminished response of ADS.

Introducción: La diabetes se asocia a un incremento en la peroxidación de lípidos, cuantificada a partir del nivel de sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). En paralelo, se activa el sistema de defensa antioxidante (SDA) para delimitar el daño. Objetivo: Determinar el grado de peroxidación de lípidos en individuos obesos diabéticos tipo 2 (DM2) y la respuesta del SDA en comparación con individuos con DM2 sin obesidad. Método: Se evaluó el daño a lípidos a través de la medición de las TBARS en dos grupos de 30 individuos. Se evaluó la respuesta del SDA por medio de la medición de la actividad de las enzimas catalasa (CAT), superóxido dismutasa (SOD) y glutatión peroxidasa (GPx). Resultados: El grupo de DM2 obesos presentó un índice de masa corporal (IMC) promedio de 38.6 ± 3.5 kg m-2 en comparación con el grupo control 24.7 ± 3.6 kg m-2 (p.

Anti-inflammatory activity of superoxide dismutase obtained from Debaryomyces hansenii on type II collagen induced arthritis in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, free radicals have been implicated in the genesis and perpetuation of damage in this pathology. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) obtained from two different sources (bovine erythrocytes, Be-SOD, and Debaryomyces hansenii, Dh-SOD) with Type II Collagen-induced Arthritis model in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Arthritis was induced by repeated injection of a porcine type II collagen-incomplete Freund adjuvant suspension on the back of Dark Augui (DA) rats. Arthritis was clinically evaluated throughout the study. Body weight was determined at three different times. Two different doses for each treatment (Be-SOD, Dh-SOD) were tested: 100 and 1,000 U/kg. At the end of the trial (day 28), histological analyses of the most inflamed ankle joint, as well as serum anti-collagen antibodies, were determined. RESULTS: Both sources of SOD decreased, although to a different extent, the incidence and severity of the disease. Arthritis score was lower in all treatments, except for the low dose of Be-SOD. Groups receiving either source of SOD showed a significant weight increase compared to the placebo group. Histological damage was similar in all groups. Only the group that received the highest dose of Dh-SOD showed a significant lower antibody titer; nevertheless, no correlation appears to derive from arthritis score and antibody titer. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that, although unable to counteract the arthritis syndrome, SOD may still be beneficial due to its anti-inflammatory activity. In the case of Dh-SOD, the best effect was observed at the highest dose tested.

[Civil status and suicide]. / El estado civil y el suicidio en Baja California Sur.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if civil status acts as a risk factor in suicide and how it modifies according to gender, age and population size. METHODS: A retrospective study which analyzes information from the mortality data from the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Information, from 1998 to 2002. Variables like suicides age, sex, cause of death, federal entity, population size and civil status were registered. RESULTS: Single men showed twofold risk for committing suicide. Women did not show any associated risk for suicide according to civil status. The risk of married men for committing suicide increased gradually with age. Medium-sized communities with less than 19,999 habitants presented the highest risk for habitants to commit suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide is associated to gender especially to men who are not married and living in small and medium-sized communities. One explanation could be the lack of integrated behavior as defined by Emile Durkheim, where the physical density of society will determine behavior and ideas. This social structure phenomenon is called the "moral cocoon." This works around the individual being less individualistic and granting him/her the feeling of belonging to a group.

Conocimiento de la enfermera sobre el procedimiento de diálisis peritoneal con bolsa gemela / Nurses knowledge about peritoneal dialysis procedure with twin bag

Objetivo: Describir el nivel de conocimiento del personal de enfermería sobre el procedimiento de diálisis peritoneal con bolsa gemela. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio transversal, con un instrumento de evaluación de conocimiento teórico de diálisis peritoneal a 110 enfermeras seleccionadas al azar en las categorías directivo 7, especialista 10, generales 57 y auxiliares 36; y una lista de cotejo para evaluar a 53 enfermeras en habilidades y destrezas en el cambio de bolsa gemela. Resultados: El conocimiento fue muy bueno en 33%, bueno 59% y malo 9%. No se encontró diferencias en el nivel de conocimiento por categorías, turno, antigüedad ni escuela de procedencia, así como asistencia a sesiones de capacitación. El grado de conocimiento se asoció al antecedente de haber realizado cambio de bolsa, turno y tiempo de laborar en diálisis peritoneal. De los 53 participantes se obtuvo una calificación media de 60.8 de un máximo de 80 puntos con un nivel regular en la destreza para el procedimiento de cambio de bolsa gemela. Conclusiones: El nivel de conocimiento del procedimiento de diálisis peritoneal se considera bueno, sin embargo su habilidad para el cambio es regular, no encontramos correlación entre el nivel de conocimiento y la destreza. Influye más para el conocimiento teórico y práctico el haber laborado en el servicio de diálisis y/o haber realizado cambio de línea, que la capacitación otorgada en sesiones.

Objective: To describe nursing staff's knowledge level about peritoneal dialysis procedure with twin bag. Methodology: A transversal study was done, with an instrument to assess theoretical knowledge about peritoneal dialysis to 110 randomly selected nurses within the categories: executive 7, specialized 10, professional 57, and assistant 36. Also, a check list was done to evaluate 53 nurses in abilities and skills for changing the twin bag. Results: Knowledge was 33% very good, 59% good and 9% bad. It were not found differences in the knowledge level neither by categories, shift, length in the job, nor source school, as well as attendance to sessions of training. Knowledge level was associated to the antecedent of having changed the bag, time shift, and length of being working on peritoneal dialysis. From 53 participants, it was obtained an average score of 60.8 out of 80 points, with a regular level in the skill to do the procedure to change the twin bag. Conclusions: The knowledge level of peritoneal dialysis procedure is considered as good; however, the ability for changing the bag is evaluated as regular. It was not found correlation between knowledge level and skill. For the theoretical and practical knowledge, having worked in the dialysis service and having done the change of the line influenced more than having received training in sessions.

[Blood group frequencies and ABO and RhD incompatibilities in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico]. / Frecuencias de grupos sanguíneos e incompatibilidades ABO y RhD, en La Paz, Baja California Sur, México.

OBJECTIVE: To determine genic and phenotypic frequencies and predict the risk of incompatibility and maternal alloimmunization in the population of La Paz. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study evaluated 1809 voluntary blood donors attending in 1998 the Hospital General de Zona of Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Zone General Hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security) in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Blood donors were typified by tube agglutination. The gene frequencies were estimated assuming equilibrium conditions, and incompatibilities and alloimmunization were statistically assessed with the chi 2 test. RESULTS: Percent frequencies were as follows: blood group O, 58.49%; A, 31.40%; B, 8.40%; AB, 1.71%; RhD, 95.36%; and RhD negative, 4.64%. Genic frequencies were: i, 0.7648; IA, 0.1821; IB, 0.0519; D, 0.7845; and d, 0.2155, respectively. Incompatibilities between couples and mother-child were 0.3023 and 0.1685 for ABO, 0.0442 and 0.0364 for RhD, and 0.0134 and 0.0061 for double incompatibility, respectively. The probability of maternal alloimmunization was estimated at 0.0309. CONCLUSIONS: The O and RhD groups were the most common in La Paz, although frequencies were among the lowest in Mexico, contrary to the case of A and RhD negative groups. The probabilities of maternal alloimmunization and of incompatibilities were also high. Ancestral white, black, and indigenous groups admixed in the northwestern part of Mexico; after migrating to Baja California Sur the admixture of the population probably became similar to that of the remainder of the northwestern area.

Frecuencias de grupos sanguíneos e incompatibilidades ABO y RhD, en La Paz, Baja California Sur, México / Blood group frequencies and ABO and RhD incompatibilities in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

OBJECTIVE: To determine genic and phenotypic frequencies and predict the risk of incompatibility and maternal alloimmunization in the population of La Paz. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This descriptive study evaluated 1809 voluntary blood donors attending in 1998 the Hospital General de Zona of Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Zone General Hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security) in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Blood donors were typified by tube agglutination. The gene frequencies were estimated assuming equilibrium conditions, and incompatibilities and alloimmunization were statistically assessed with the chi 2 test. RESULTS: Percent frequencies were as follows: blood group O, 58.49; A, 31.40; B, 8.40; AB, 1.71; RhD, 95.36; and RhD negative, 4.64. Genic frequencies were: i, 0.7648; IA, 0.1821; IB, 0.0519; D, 0.7845; and d, 0.2155, respectively. Incompatibilities between couples and mother-child were 0.3023 and 0.1685 for ABO, 0.0442 and 0.0364 for RhD, and 0.0134 and 0.0061 for double incompatibility, respectively. The probability of maternal alloimmunization was estimated at 0.0309. CONCLUSIONS: The O and RhD groups were the most common in La Paz, although frequencies were among the lowest in Mexico, contrary to the case of A and RhD negative groups. The probabilities of maternal alloimmunization and of incompatibilities were also high. Ancestral white, black, and indigenous groups admixed in the northwestern part of Mexico; after migrating to Baja California Sur the admixture of the population probably became similar to that of the remainder of the northwestern area.

Superoxide dismutase and Naproxen in the very late phase of carrageenan induced edema in rats / Peróxido dismutasa y Naproxen en fase muy tardía de edema inducido por carragenina en ratas

Introducción. El modelo de edema inducido por carragenina (EIC) en la pata de la rata es ampliamente utilizado para estudiar el efecto antiinflamatorio de drogas. Clásicamente consta de dos etapas de reacción inflamatoria, sin embargo se ha observado una tercera poco caracterizada. La superóxido dismutasa (SOD) es una enzima eliminadora de radicales libres de oxígeno con actividad antiinflamatoria. En nuestro país no contamos con un instrumento especialmente diseñado para evaluar el edema en EIC. Métodos. Se indujo edema a la pata de la rata mediante la aplicación intraplantar de carragenina. Se formaron cuatro grupos: placebo, dos distintas dosis de SOD y Naproxen©. Se evaluó el edema utilizando un pletismógrafo de mercurio especialmente diseñado. La intensidad de la reacción inflamatoria se determinó durante las fases clásicas temprana y tardía y durante una tercera fase muy tardía. Resultados. Todos los tratamientos tuvieron efecto antiinflamatorio durante la fase temprana, tardía y muy tardía, a excepción de la dosis alta de SOD durante la primera fase. El Naproxen© fue superior que la SOD durante las dos primeras fases, sin embargo esta diferencia desapareció en la fase muy tardía. En términos de bases equimolares la enzima parece ser 1,800 veces más potente que el Naproxen©. El pletismógrafo de mercurio funcionó adecuadamente. Conclusiones. La SOD y el Naproxen© tienen efecto antiinflamatorio el cual se extiende hasta la fase muy tardía del modelo de EIC. La actividad antiinflamatoria de la enzima se debe a un mecanismo suplementario a la capacidad eliminadora de radicales libres de oxígeno. La SOD puede ser utilizada como fuente alternativa en enfermedades inflamatorias.

Effect of superoxide dismutase from bovine erithrocytes on different activity parameters in Ajuvant-Induced arthritis

Background. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on primary swelling, lipoperoxidation, body thymus, and spleen weight in the adjuvants-induced arthritis (AIA) model in rats. Methods. Orally and intraperitoneally administered SOD (100 U/kg) from bovine erythrocytes, as well as naproxen (40 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (25 mg/kg), were evaluated againts placebo. Results. Primary edema was not decreased by SOD; in contrast, naproxen and dexamethasone showed good anti-inflammatory activity. Lipoperoxidation increased 1.8, 2.5, and 2.8 times with intraperitoneal SOD, naproxen, and dexamethasone administration, respectively, while oral SOD decreased lipoperoxidation levels to approximately one-half of that found in the control group. Body weight increased with SOD but decreased with dexamethasone. Naproxen did not change the animal weight. Thymus weight remained unchanged with SOD and naproxen, while it decreased with dezamethasone. Splee weight remained the same wih SOD, but increased with naproxen and decreased with dezamethasone. No side of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and 50 percent of the rats in the dexamethasone group, of pulmonary infection. Conclusions. In conclusion, SOD showed no anti-inflammatory activity but decreased lipoperoxidation when administered orally. No deleterious effects in primary and secondary immunologic organs were observed with this agent

Anti-Inflammatory activity od debaryomyces hansenii Cu, Zn-SOD

Background. Cu,Zn-superoxide-dismutase, Cu,Zn-SOD, can be obtained from different sources with different anti-inflammatory activities. In this study we compared the antiinflammatory capacity of the marine yeast Debaryomyces hanseii Cu,Zn-SOD (Dh-SOD) with that of bovine erythrocytes (Be-SOD) in preventive an a therapeutic fashion. Methods. Edema was induced by carrageenan injection into the rat hind paw and was evaluated using a mercury plethysmograph. Development of the inflammatory process was followed by volume displacement at time 0 (carrageenan injection), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h thereafter. Three different SOD doses were used in preliminary experiments to prevent edema: 10, 100, and U/kg. Results. The results indicate that, at the lowest dose (10 U/kg), both SOD samples are effective in reducing inflammation in both the prostaglandin and amplification phases (-24.8 percent and -17.5 percent in the case of Be-SOD, and 11.8 percent and -18.7 percent in the case of Dh-SOD, respectively) (p<0.05). At 100 U/kg, Be-SOD also shows good anti-inflammatory activity in all edema phases (-27.1 percent in the serotonin phase; -19.4 percent in the prostaglandin phase; and -20 percent in the amplification phase) (p<0.05), but Dh-SOD was less effective (-10.9 percent, -9.1 percent, and -5.7 percent). At the highest dose tested (1000 U/kg), Dh-SOD was, again more effective than Be-SOD in all three edema phases (-33.1 percent and -1.5 percent; -17.9 percent and -2.6 percent; and -13.8 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively) (p >0.05). When evaluated as a therapeutic alternative, single doses of DH-SOD at 1,000 U/kg, and Be-SOD at 100 U/kg, both showed good anti-inflammatory activities (-31.7 percent and -23.5 percent, respectively) (p < 0.05). Conclusion. For therapy purposes alone, DH-SOD appears to be a better anti-inflammatory agent than Be-SOD in carrageenan-induced edema