The effect of obesity on inflammatory cytokine and leptin production following acute mental stress.

Obesity may contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk by eliciting chronic systemic inflammation and impairing the immune response to additional stressors. There has been little assessment of the effect of obesity on psychological stress, an independent risk factor for CVD. Therefore, it was of interest to examine interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and leptin following an acute mental stress task in nonobese and obese males. Twenty college-aged males (21.3 ± 0.56 years) volunteered to participate in a 20-min Stroop color-word and mirror-tracing task. Subjects were recruited for obese (body mass index: BMI > 30) and nonobese (BMI < 25) groups, and blood samples were collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis. The acute mental stress task elicited an increase in heart rate, catecholamines, and IL-1ß in all subjects. Additionally, acute mental stress increased cortisol concentrations in the nonobese group. There was a significant reduction in leptin in obese subjects 30 min posttask compared with a decrease in nonobese subjects 120 min posttask. Interestingly, the relationship between the percent change in leptin and IL-1Ra at 120 min posttask in response to an acute mental stress task was only observed in nonobese individuals. This is the first study to suggest that adiposity in males may impact leptin and inflammatory signaling mechanisms following acute mental stress.

Forearm blood flow response to acute exercise in obese and non-obese males.

Chronic exercise is thought to improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation; however, few studies have evaluated the effects of acute exercise on microvascular vasodilatory capacity (MVC). Moreover, no studies have compared MVC responses in obese and non-obese individuals following acute exercise. To evaluate MVC, utilizing forearm blood flow (FBF) and excess blood flow (EBF) before and up to 48 h after a single exercise bout to elicit peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) in obese and non-obese males. Twelve obese (37.0 ± 1.1 kg/m(2)) and 12 non-obese (21.9 ± 0.3 kg/m(2)) males volunteered to participate. FBF measures, before and during reactive hyperemia (RH), were obtained prior to (PRE-E), immediately after (POST-E), and at 1 (POST-1), 2 (POST-2), 24 (POST-24), and 48 (POST-48) hours after exercise. EBF, was calculated as the difference between FBF, before and during RH. Blood samples were obtained to evaluate the response of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which are potential modifiers of MVC. FBF before and during RH were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in both groups POST-E. The EBF magnitude of change from PRE-E was significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in non-obese when compared with obese males. Although not related to MVC, concentrations of IL-6 significantly decreased between POST-2 and POST-24 in both groups. An acute bout of exercise designed to elicit VO2 peak significantly increased forearm MVC in non-obese and obese males, although the magnitude of change in EBF from PRE-E to POST-E was greater in non-obese males.

Hernia de Spiegel / Spigelian hernia: report of 23 cases

Background: Spigelian hernia (SH) can be defined as the protrusion of preperitoneal fat or a peritoneal sac containing or not containing an intra-abdominal organ, across a congenital or acquired defect in the Spigelian line. These hernias are also known as "spontaneous lateral ventral hernias", "hernia of the semilunar line," or "hernias through the conjoint tendon". Aim: To report the clinical features of this type of hernia. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of 23 patients aged 36 to 83 years (16 females) with Spigelian hernia treated in a lapse of 10 years. Results: Fifty two percent of the patients were obese. The hernia was unilateral in all patients and in 70 percent of cases, it was located in the left side. All patients referred pain. A palpable mass was found in 83 percent. An ultrasound was required to confirm the diagnosis in 22 percent of patients. All were subjected to elective surgery, with local anesthesia. No relapse has been detected. Conclusions: Spigelian hernia is uncommon and usually presents with pain. Its surgical correction can be carried out with local anesthesia.

La hernia de Spiegel es infrecuente. Existen en Latinoamérica pocas publicaciones sobre este tema. El objetivo de esta presentación es dar cuenta, mediante 23 casos, de algunos aspectos de su presentación. El siguiente es un estudio observacional descriptivo, que analiza una serie de pacientes intervenidos con el diagnóstico de hernia de Spiegel en nuestro centro en un período de 10 años. Los instrumentos de análisis fueron la ficha clínica, la información existente en la base de datos EpiInfo del servicio y una entrevista personal. La hernia de Spiegel constituyó el 0,9 por ciento de 2.568 operaciones de pared realizadas en nuestro servicio, fue más frecuente en mujeres y en el lado izquierdo (69,5 por ciento), la edad promedio fue de 59,5 (36-83) años. Fue unilateral en todos los casos. La obesidad estuvo presente en el 52 por ciento de los pacientes. El dolor estuvo presente en todos los pacientes y una masa palpable fue encontrada en 19 (82,6 por ciento). Se necesitó ecotomografia en 5 (21,7 por ciento) para corroborar el diagnóstico. La totalidad de la serie fue operada de manera electiva y con anestesia local. No se han detectado complicaciones ni recidivas a la fecha. Concluimos que la hernia de Spiegel es rara y su forma de presentación más frecuente es con dolor. Factores de riesgo como la obesidad deben ser tenidos en cuenta. La ecotomografia ayuda al diagnóstico, pero no es necesario utilizarla de rutina. La cirugía ambulatoria con anestesia local permitió el tratamiento en todos los casos.

Modelling the anxiety-depression continuum in chicks.

The clinical syndromes of anxiety and depression are now thought to exist along a temporal continuum and this construct has been modelled in a preclinical setting in chicks separated from conspecifics. This research sought to further the validity of the chick anxiety-depression continuum model. Dose-response studies using two classes of anxiolytics (chlordiazepoxide: 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 mg/kg, and clonidine: 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25 mg/kg) and three classes of antidepressants (imipramine: 1.0, 3.0, 10.0, 15.0 mg/kg, maprotoline: 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 mg/kg and fluoxetine: 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 mg/kg) showed an ability to detect anxiolytic activity of chlordiazepoxide, clonidine, imipramine and maprotoline in the anxiety-like phase of the model and to detect antidepressant effects of imipramine, maprotoline and fluoxetine in the depression-like phase of the model. In addition, blood plasma interleukin-6, a biomarker of stress, was found to be elevated in response to social-separation stress. Collectively, these findings further characterize the model as a simulation of the anxiety-depression continuum and begin to establish the paradigm as a high-utility adjuvant to rodent screening assays for putative anxiolytic and antidepressant compounds.

Kwashiorkor y marasmo-kwashiorkor en niños hospitalizados / kwashiorkor and maramos-kwashiorkor in hospitalized children

Objetivo:Determinar la prevalencia y características epidemiológicas dela desnutrición tipo kwashiorkor y marasmo kwashiorkor de los niños <5 años al ingreso en un servicio de referencia pediátrica paraguayo, en el periodo marzo-junio 2003 y compararla con el año 1997. Método: Diseño observacional, retrospectivo y prospectivo, se analizaron la ficha clinica de los niños <5 años con desnutrición edematosa al ingreso a la Cátedra de Pediatría Hospital de Clínicas. Resultados: Ingresaron al Servicio de Pediatría durante el año 1997, 506 niños <5 años, 23,5pto con desnutrición; de éstos 39 presentaron desnutrición edematosa (kwashiorkor; 7,7pto. Entre marzo y junio 2003, ingresaron 305 <5 años: 120 con marasmo, 48 con desnutrición moderada y 46 desnutrición edematosa: 22 kwashiorkor y 24 marasmo-kwashiorkor(46/214) niños desnutridos: 21,4 pto y 46/95 9,2pto de la población total de niños internados).Existe 5 veces mas probabilidad de que los niños ingresados en 2003 presenten denutrición (OR:5,01; 3,64-6,91), tambien se observa un aumento significativo de la probabilidad de desnutrición de tipo edematosa (OR:2,13:1,32-3,43) en relación al año 1997. De los 46ptes con desnutrición edematosa:20 eran varones; edadx14m(2-42m); procedencia:19 rural y 27 urbana; lactancia materna exclusiva:2,5m (total6,7 m,rango0-18);edad de inicio alimentos complementarios:5m (rango2-10m) Peso nac.x:3080 g(1500-4300).Bajo peso al nacer:8/46.Ingreso económico de padres todos por debajo de la línea de la pobreza.Patología concomitantes:gastrointestinales:22/46, neumonia:13/46, Laboratorio:albuminemia:2,2 g/dl(1,0-3,2g/dl).Dias de internación:17 d(2-41); fallecidos:5/46.Conclusiones: Hay un aparente aumento en años recientes de la desnutrición severa edematosa en niños <5 años al ingreso a un Servicio Pediátrico de referencia, asociada a condiciones familiares de extrema pobreza. Las causas de hospitalización, son infecciones intercurrentes graves.

Rigorous running increases growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I without altering ghrelin.

It has been suggested that ghrelin may play a role in growth hormone (GH) responses to exercise. The present study was designed to determine whether ghrelin, GH, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) were altered by a progressively intense running protocol. Six well-trained male volunteers completed a progressively intense intermittent exercise trial on a treadmill that included four exercise intensities: 60%, 75%, 90%, and 100% of Vo2max. Blood samples were collected before exercise, after each exercise intensity, and at 15 and 30 mins following the exercise protocol. Subjects also completed a separate control trial at the same time of day that excluded exercise. GH changed significantly over time, and GH area under the curve (AUC) was significantly higher in the exercise trial than the control trial. Area under the curve IGF-I levels for the exercise trial were significantly higher than the control trial. There was no difference in the ghrelin and IGFBP-3 responses to the exercise and control trials. Pearson correlation coefficients revealed significant relationships between ghrelin and both IGF-I and IGFBP-3; however, no relationship between ghrelin and GH was found. In conclusion, intense running produces increases in total IGF-I concentrations, which differs from findings in previous studies using less rigorous running protocols and less frequent blood sampling regimens. Moreover, running exercise that produces substantial increases in GH does not affect peripheral ghrelin levels; however, significant relationships between ghrelin and both IGF-I and IGFBP-3 exist during intense intermittent running and recovery, which warrants further investigation.

Glucoregulatory endocrine responses to intermittent exercise of different intensities: plasma changes in a pancreatic beta-cell peptide, amylin.

Amylin, a peptide hormone released from the beta cells of the pancreas and cosecreted with insulin, is reported to inhibit the release of postprandial glucagon and insulin and to modulate gastric emptying. Changes in insulin and glucagon are important for controlling blood glucose levels under conditions in which metabolic rate is elevated, such as during and following exercise. Amylin may participate in the regulation of blood glucose levels in response to exercise, although the role of amylin has not been investigated. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a progressive, intermittent exercise protocol on amylin concentrations and to compare its response to circulating levels of insulin, glucagon, cortisol, and glucose. Seven well-trained males completed an intermittent exercise trial on a treadmill at four progressive exercise intensities: 60%, 75%, 90%, and 100% of maximum oxygen consumption (.VO(2)max). Blood samples were collected before exercise, after each exercise intensity, and for 1 hour following the exercise protocol. Subjects also completed a control trial with no exercise. Amylin and insulin rose from baseline (5.79 +/-.78 pmol/L and 4.76 +/-.88 microIU/mL) to peak after 100% .VO(2)max (9.16 +/- 1.35 pmol/L and 14.37 +/- microIU/ml), respectively and remained elevated during much of recovery. Thus, a progressive intermittent exercise protocol of moderate to maximum exercise intensities stimulates increases in amylin levels in well-trained individuals in a similar fashion to that of insulin, whereas glucagon concentrations only increase after the greatest exercise intensity, then quickly decline. Future studies should examine the effects of higher amylin concentrations in exercise recovery on glucoregulation.

Tumour necrosis factor microsatellites and HLA-DRB1*, HLA-DQA1*, and HLA-DQB1* alleles in Peruvian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and HLA and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) polymorphism in Peruvian mestizo patients in comparison with ethnically similar controls. METHODS: Seventy nine patients with RA and 65 ethnically matched healthy controls were genotyped for HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, and TNFalpha and TNFbeta alleles using PCR amplification. Clinical severity was assessed as mild, moderate, or severe in 35 of the patients. RESULTS: TNFalpha6 showed the strongest association with disease susceptibility. The TNFalpha6 allele was more common in patients than in controls (p<0.0076) and the proportion of patients with at least one copy of this allele was greater (p<0.015, relative risk 2.35). Among the HLA-DRB1* alleles with the shared epitope sequence, only the DRB1*1402 allele was significantly increased in patients compared with controls (p<0.0311), as was the proportion of patients with at least one copy of this allele (p<0.0232, relative risk 2.74). In contrast, the overall frequency of alleles with the shared epitope was not different in patients and controls. The haplotype HLA-DRB1*1402-DQB1*0301-DQA1*0401 was significantly more common in patients. TNFalpha6 was more common in patients whether or not they had this haplotype. None of the 11 patients lacking the TNFalpha6 allele had severe disease. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows for the first time that TNF gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to RA in a non-white population. TNFalpha6 and HLA-DRB1*1402 independently conferred significantly increased risk in Peruvian mestizo patients.

Tratamiento quirúrgico de hemangiomas en niños / Surgical treatment of childhood hemangiomas

El hemangioma es la tumoración benigna más frecuente en pediatría, encontrándose en 12 por ciento de la población al año de vida. La controversia que existe en torno a estas lesiones se debe en gran parte a las diversas nomenclaturas que existen para una misma lesión que confunde el diagnóstico y su manejo futuro. La clasificación de Mulliken y Glowacki divide las lesiones vasculares en hemangiomas y malformaciones vasculares según su clínica y características endoteliales. Los hemangiomas corresponden a aquellas lesiones que tienen una fase de crecimiento rápido en el período neonatal, seguido de una fase lenta de involución espontánea. Por otra parte las malformaciones vasculares son lesiones que están presentes al nacer y que crecen con el niño sin regresar espontáneamente. La involución de los hemangiomas ocurre en 90 por ciento de los casos dentro de los 8 años, sin mediar tratamiento alguno. Sin embargo, existen condiciones como aquellas que involucran órganos vitales, que presentan riesgo de sangramiento o que comprometen zonas como naríz, párpados, etc., que hacen necesario tratarlas ya sea médicamente (corticoides, interferón, terapia de láser, embolización) o quirúrgicamente, para evitar secuelas estéticas y/o funcionales. Se analizan 70 pacientes con hemangiomas que fueron sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico. El 71,4 por ciento estaban localizados en cabeza y cuello. El rango de edad de la cirugía fue de 3 meses a 15 años, siendo un procedimiento único en el 70 por ciento de los casos. El tratamiento quirúrgico evitó deformidad progresiva de las estructuras normales vecinas y/o trastornos psicológicos, proporcionándonos buenos resultados a largo plazo y mínima morbilidad

[Standardization of ELISA IgM and IgA for immunodiagnosis of human trichinosis]. / Estandarización de ELISA IgM e IgA para el inmunodiagnóstico de la triquinosis humana.

An ELISA test for trichinosis using as antigen a larvae soluble fraction from Trichinella spiralis was carried out for the detection of IgM and IgA specific antibodies in 45 serum samples from patients confirmed or suspected to have trichinosis by strong clinical and epidemiological evidences. All the patients had positive serology detected by precipitin test, bentonite floculation test, indirect hemagglutination test and ELISA IgG test. The cut-off value was determined using two criteria. Criterion A was determined in each plate, using three positive controls and two negative ones; the average of the negative controls and the weakest positive control, multiplied by a 1.2 factor was, considered the cut-off value. Criterion B was determined using the average plus three standard deviations from 64 apparently healthy persons serum samples. In both cases, three serum dilutions (1:10, 1:100 and 1:500) were used. The sensitivity of ELISA IgM was 100.0, 93.3 and 82.2% using serum dilutions of 1:10, 1:100 and 1:500 respectively (criterion A) and 100.0, 97.8 and 95.6% for the same dilutions (criterion B), whereas the values for ELISA IgA were: 100.0, 91.1 and 86.7% (criterion A) and 100.0, 100.0 and 91.1% (criterion B). In order to find out the specificity of ELISA IgM and ELISA IgA, additional 118 serum samples from individuals with other parasitoses, such as cysticercosis (18) hydatidosis (39), fascioliasis (12), toxocariasis (30), Chagas' disease (12) and individuals with non-specific eosinophilia (7), were also tested. ELISA IgM presented a specificity of 92.3, 93.4 and 97.3% (criterion A) and 96.2, 97.8 and 97.8% (criterion B) whereas the results for ELISA IgA were 97.8, 98.9 and 99.4% (criterion A) and 98.4% for the 1:10 and 1:100 dilutions and 100.0% for the 1:500 dilution (criterion B). The positive predictive values of ELISA IgM were 76.3, 77.8 and 88.1% (criterion A) and 86.5, 91.7 and 91.5% (criterion B) whereas the negative ones were 100.0, 98.3 and 95.7% (criterion A) and 100.0, 99.4 and 98.9% (criterion B). The positive predictive values of ELISA IgA were 91.8, 95.3 and 97.5% (criterion A) and 93.8, 93.8 and 100.0% (criterion B) whereas the negatives ones were: 100.0, 97.8 and 96.8% (criterion A) and 100.0, 100.0 and 97.8% (criterion B). The use of ELISA IgM and ELISA IgA in the immunodiagnosis of trichinosis is discussed.

Immunological detection of membrane-associated human luteinizing hormone correlates with gene expression in cultured human cancer and fetal cells.

We have demonstrated the expression of membrane-associated hCG and its subunits and fragments by cells from 78 human cancer cell lines of different types and origins, indicating that such expression is a common phenotypic characteristic of cultured human malignant cells. Because human (h) LH beta has 80% homology with hCG beta and is coded by one of the seven genes in the gene cluster located in chromosome 19, it was important to determine whether hLH and its beta-subunit are also expressed as membrane-associated proteins by cells from human cancer cell lines. Thus, 11 cancer cell lines of different types and origins were adapted to grow in serumless medium, with Nutridoma-HU or SP as serum substitute, and analyzed by flow cytometry using two monoclonal antibodies directed to different conformational epitopes of intact hLH and a monoclonal antibody reacting with an epitope of hLH beta-free. The cells were also analyzed simultaneously for the expression of hCG and its subunits and fragments. Determination of translatable levels of hLH beta and hCG beta messenger RNAs (mRNAs) was performed in cells from some of the cancer cell lines, including the JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cell line, and in cells from a human fetal lung cell line. The analytical flow cytometry studies showed that in addition to the expression of membrane-associated hCG in all of its forms, expression of membrane-associated intact (holo) hLH and its free beta-subunit occurred in every case. These findings were corroborated by the presence of translatable levels of hLH beta and hCG beta mRNAs in all of the cancer cell lines analyzed, indicating that the expression of these membrane-associated glycoproteins is a phenotypic characteristic of human cancer cells and that the activation of the hCG beta-hLH beta gene cluster is nonselective. The presence of translatable levels of hCG beta-hLH beta mRNAs in the cultured human fetal lung cells punctuates once more the in vivo and in vitro biochemical similarities between fetal and cancer cells.

Flow cytometry method for the analysis of membrane-associated human chorionic gonadotropin, its subunits, and fragments on human cancer cells.

A quantitative flow cytometry method for the analysis of membrane-associated human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), its subunits, and fragments on human cancer cells was developed using a double-antibody reaction; a flow cytometry with a 2-W argon laser, standard settings, and filters for fluorescein isothiocyanate use; commercially available software; and the ectopic hCG producer CCL 2 HeLa cells from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) as a cell control to standardize the reagents and for overall quality control. Twenty-two monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) and immunoglobulin G fractions from three rabbit polyclonal antisera were tested for effects of antibody concentration (titration), reproducibility at different levels of epitope expression, and variability of epitope expression to select appropriate primary antibodies. Based on the results of the various tests, three polyclonal immunoglobulin G antibodies and a panel of nine MoAb directed to epitopes located in five different regions on the hCG molecule were selected as first antibodies. Their specificity was determined by using two unrelated MoAb of the same isotype at the same concentration to replace the primary MoAb and by a competition experiment. The unrelated MoAb also were used for the selection of the appropriate control fluorescence profile needed for the software. The unique characteristics of this method were: the use of living cells, standardized reagents, internal and external quality control, and the highest sensitivity, which could detect as few as 10(3) molecules of fluorochrome per cell. Serial analyses of the ATCC CCL 2 HeLa cells and two of its variants and of the eutopic hCG producer JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells revealed the expression of membrane-associated epitopes of intact hCG, its subunits, and fragments by a high percentage of the cells, indicating that the expression of these sialoglycoproteins by these two different types of cancer cells is a common phenotypic characteristic.

Expression of membrane-associated human chorionic gonadotropin, its subunits, and fragments by cultured human cancer cells.

The expression of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), its subunits, and fragments on the cell membrane of cultured human cancer cells was investigated using a flow cytometric method. This method uses living cells; a double-antibody reaction; a flow cytometer with an argon laser, standard settings, and filters for fluorescein isothiocyanate; commercially available software; the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) CCL 2 HeLa cell line as cell control and overall quality control; polyclonal rabbit antisera raised against the hCG dimer, its alpha subunit (hCG alpha), and its beta subunit (hCG beta); and a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) recognizing different epitopes on the intact hCG molecule, its subunits, and fragments. The purified immunoglobulin G fractions from the polyclonal antisera were used to estimate the total expression of the membrane-associated glycoproteins; the MoAb were used to detect the expression of epitopes of the hCG dimer, its subunits, and fragments. The results of the analyses done on cells from 74 established cancer cell lines of different types and origins (including 52 carcinomas, 10 sarcomas, 4 leukemias, 6 lymphomas, and 2 retinoblastomas) showed variable degrees of reactivity in a great percentage of cells in all cell lines studied with MoAb directed against different conformational epitopes of intact hCG (hCG-holo), hCG beta, hCG beta-free, the carboxy terminal peptide (CTP) of hCG beta, and an epitope of hCG alpha. The expression of the membrane-associated epitopes of hCG and its subunits was found to be a phenotypic marker characteristic of all evaluated cultured human cancer cell lines, irrespective of their type or origin. There were, however, quantitative and qualitative differences in the expression of the different epitopes. Thus, hCG beta, free and as part of hCG-holo, recognized by the MoAb against hCG beta-CTP, was expressed by a high percentage of cells of most cell lines. There was great variability in the expression of hCG-holo, recognized by MoAb B109. For this reason some groups of cancers expressed larger amounts of incompetent hCG alpha and/or hCG beta than others. Cell lines derived from adenocarcinomas of the lung were the only exception to this general finding; the expression of small amounts of hCG-holo was caused by a low degree of hCG alpha synthesis.

[Effect of reheating on iron availability and the protein nutritive value of cooked black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)]. / Efecto del recalentamiento sobre la disponibilidad de hierro y el valor nutritivo de la proteína del frijol negro (Phaseolus vulgaris) cocido.

In Guatemala, at the rural level, beans are prepared for family consumption every two days. Beans are cooked again every 12 hours for 15 minutes prior to their consumption. Due to the adverse effect that the process causes on nutritive value, the present study evaluated the method and preparation practice of beans on protein value; tannin and soluble and ionizable iron content. As to the effect of re-cooking on protein level, findings revealed that there were no significant statistical effects on net protein ratio (NPR) or in protein efficiency ratio (PER) and number of bean cooking. Nevertheless, a constant effect in quality in the first and second cooking procedure was detected. The second cooking gave a similar value as the first. Also, the first and second heating reduced protein digestibility, but the third gave a value similar to the initial one. No changes were observed in the digestibility of dry matter. Relatively high amounts of protein were found in the cooking broth, which was not affected by the number of heating. It was also found that the bean broth contained high levels of tannins in the initial heating, decreasing later significantly. The same was observed in the cooked beans alone and in beans with their broth. With respect to iron, findings showed a relatively high transference of beans to broth, in total iron as well as in soluble, ionizable and insoluble iron. No changes were observed in whole beans without broth caused by number of heatings, on total, soluble or ionizable iron. In beans with their broth, a similar effect was observed, although a slight increase in insoluble iron was detected at the end of heating. A decrease in soluble and insoluble iron was observed in broth with number of heatings. Correlations were calculated among the parameters studied, which suggested an effect of tannins on the bioavailability of iron caused by tannins.

Estudio clínico multicéntrico doble-ciego de naproxen 1000 mg vs. piroxican en dosis única diaria matinal para el tratamiento de la osteoartritis de rodilla / Multicentric doble-blind clinical trial with naproxen 1000 mg versus piroxican once a day morning dosage in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Se estudiaron 109 pacientes adultos mayores de 50 años con Osteoartritis de rodilla en un protocolo clínico multicéntrico a doble-ciego con el objetivo de comparar: la eficacia y la seguridad del uso de una dosis diaria matinal de 1000 mg de Naproxen o de 20 mg de Piroxicam, por un período máximo de tratamiento de 6 semanas por vía oral. Se utilizaron parámetros cuantitativos y semicuatitativos para medir el dolor, volumen articular, amplitud de movimiento articular, eficacia clínica y efectos colaterales. Se administró Naproxen a 55 pacientes y Piroxicam a 54 pacientes, de edades que fluctuaron entre los 51 y 80 años y con predominancia del sexo feminino. Los resultados fueron excelentes y muy buenos en 29 casos (52.7 por ciento) y buenos en 12 casos (21.8 por ciento) en el grupo Naproxen. En el grupo Piroxicam los resultados fueron excelentes y muy buenos en 26 pacientes (48 por ciento) y buenos en 14 casos (25.9 por ciento). En 21 pacientes del grupo con Naproxen (38 por ciento) y en 25 pacientes del grupo Piroxicam (46 por ciento) se presentaron efectos secundarios predominantemente en el tracto gastrointestinal, pero que fueron de leve a moderada intensidad. Las diferencias entre ambos grupos no fueron estadísticamente significativas y por consiguiente, los resultados terapéuticos fueron similares con ambas drogas, notándose una tendencia ligeramente favorable en la disminución del dolos en el grupo con Naproxen. En conclusión la administración de ambas drogas, además de eficaz es bastante segura el uso de una dosis diaria de Naproxen se vuelve una alternativa recomendable.

Fármacos neurolépticos y discinesia tardía II: estudio retrospectivo sobre reacciones adversas de los neurolépticos 1983-1985 / Neuroleptic drugs and tardive dyskinesia II: retrospective study about adverse affects of neuroleptics, 1983-1985

Se analizaron 1288 fichas de pacientes con diferentes diagnósticos psiquiátricos, a los que se les instauró un tratamiento con fármacos neurolépticos, de los cuales un 57,2% fueron hombres y un 75% de ellos, con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia (EQZ). Las población femenina alcanzó un 42,8% y de ellas, un 52% presentaba un diagnóstico de EQZ. Los neurolépticos más usados fueron la tioridazina (TDZ), el haloperidol (HAL), la cloropromazina (CPZ) y la sulpirida (SUL). Se corrobora que los fármacos neurolépticos de mayor potencia (butirofenonas) producen mas reacciones adversas (RAM) en la esfera extrapiramidal, en cambio los neurolépticos de baja potencia (tioridazina y cloropromazina) producen mas RAM a nivel del SNC y de la esfera vegetativa. En este estudio obtuvimos una incidencia de un 0,5% de discinesias tardías, asociadas al uso prolongado de HAL y fluspirileno. El reconocimiento precoz de la DT y la pronta supresión del neuroléptico cuando en indicado, puede reducir la incidencia de esta alteración

Eicosanoides en el sistema nervioso central / Eicosanoids in the central nervous system

Los eicosanoides son derivados de ácidos grasos esenciales poliinsaturados de 20 átomos de carbono que afectan prácticamente todas las funciones biológicas. Se ha propuesto un rol modulador a nivel del sistema nervioso central para ellos. La presente revisión se refiere al posible rol central de los eicosanoides, productos de dos vías biosintéticas: la ciclooxigenasas y las lipooxigenasas, así como el rol de agentes terapéuticos que actúan sobre ellos. Se analiza su efecto sobre la circulación cerebrovascular y su acción neuromoduladora, que afecta la función hipotalámica, el umbral convulsivante y la nocicepción, entre ellos. Claramente durante los últimos años el descubrimiento del tromboxano, prostaciclina y leucotrienos ha desviado el interés de las prostaglandinas primarias (PGE y PGF) en busca de acciones fisiológicas mas específicas