Cocoa consumption reduces NF-κB activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in humans.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between high-polyphenol intake and reduced incidence of atherosclerosis. The healthy effects of cocoa-polyphenols may be due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, although the exact mechanisms are unknown and depend on the matrix in which cocoa-polyphenols are delivered. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is a key molecule in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis involved in the regulation of adhesion molecules(AM) and cytokine expression and its activation is the first step in triggering the inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute cocoa consumption in different matrices related to the bioavailability of cocoa-polyphenols in NF-κB activation and the expression of AM. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighteen healthy volunteers randomly received 3 interventions: 40g of cocoa powder with milk (CM), with water (CW), and only milk (M). NF-κB activation in leukocytes and AM (sICAM, sVCAM, E-selectin) were measured before and 6h after each intervention. Consumption of CW significantly decreased NF-κB activation compared to baseline and to CM (P < 0.05, both), did not change after CM intervention, and significantly increased after M intervention (P = 0.014). sICAM-1 concentrations significantly decreased after 6h of CW and CM interventions (P ≤ 0.026; both) and E-selectin only decreased after CW intervention (P = 0.028). No significant changes were observed in sVCAM-1 concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-inflammatory effect of cocoa intake may depend on the bioavailability of bioactive compounds and may be mediated at least in part by the modulation of NF-κB activation and downstream molecules reinforcing the link between cocoa intake and health.

Use of a polytetrafluoroethylene tube and patch in the repair of a difficult duodenal stump.

In the cases where a primary anastomosis is unable after a duodenal resection, special care must be taken to avoid any complication in the duodenal stump such as suture dehiscence. Wall inflammation is an important factor in the development of this complication. We report a case of a 35-year-old woman who had previously undergone to pyloric exclusion due to a wall defect occurred after a bilio-digestive anastomosis, which complicated with a posterior duodenal stump dehiscence. The acute edema of the stump walls that resulted after it because exposure to bile conducted to heroic measures for its closure: first, the use of a polytetrafluoroethylene tube as duodenostomy and posteriorly a patch of the same material for its final closure. Both gave successful results in the repair of a refractory duodenal stump dehiscence.

Use of a polytetrafluoroethylene tube and patch in the repair of a difficult duodenal stump

In the cases where a primary anastomosis is unable after a duodenal resection, special care must be taken to avoid any complication in the duodenal stump such as suture dehiscence. Wall inflammation is an important factor in the development of this complication. We report a case of a 35-year-old woman who had previously undergone to pyloric exclusion due to a wall defect occurred after a bilio-digestive anastomosis, which complicated with a posterior duodenal stump dehiscence. The acute edema of the stump walls that resulted after it because exposure to bile conducted to heroic measures for its closure: first, the use of a polytetrafluoroethylene tube as duodenostomy and posteriorly a patch of the same material for its final closure. Both gave successful results in the repair of a refractory duodenal stump dehiscence.

Effect of dietary energy level and oil source on broiler performance and response to an inflammatory challenge.

Broiler chicks were fed one of five diets from 3 d of age: a low energy diet containing 7% cellulose (ME 2,714 kcal/kg), or high energy diets containing approximately 7% of either tallow, corn oil, safflower oil, or fish oil (each 3,302 kcal/kg). Half of the chicks were injected intra-abdominally with Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Day 11, sephadex on Day 13, and Freund's complete adjuvant on Day 15; samples were collected on Day 16. The uninjected chicks served as controls. In a second experiment, 3-d-old chicks were fed one of eight isocaloric diets containing tallow as the sole supplemental fat source, or tallow plus either 2% corn oil, 1, 1.5, or 2% fish oil, or fish meal at an amount to provide 1, 1.5 or 2% supplemental oil. Half of the chicks were injected intra-abdominally with S. typhimurium LPS on Days 10, 12 and 14; the uninjected chicks served as controls. Samples were taken on Day 15. In Experiment 1, the cellulose diet decreased performance to 10 d of age relative to the other diets, whereas immunogen injection decreased weight gain and feed efficiency and increased indices of inflammation among all dietary groups. Fish oil at approximately 7% of the diet did not improve weight gain. Fish oil diets improved weight gain and feed efficiency in Experiment 2 relative to the other diets, in spite of minimal effects on indices of inflammation. Injection of LPS decreased performance and increased inflammation across dietary treatment, although the second LPS injection was less potent in altering performance responses and inflammation compared to the first injection, indicating that repeated injections of LPS amy cause the chicks to become refractory to that stimulus. The fish meal diets resulted in poorer performance than similar levels of lipid provided as fish oil. Lower levels of dietary fish oil were more efficacious in improving broiler performance than higher levels, and fish oil provided from fish meal was not as efficacious as oil per se, possibly due to nonlipid components of the meal.

High incidence of pericardial effusion in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: usefulness of echocardiography.

In a consecutive group of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma a prospective study was designed to detect pericardial and myocardial abnormalities at presentation for initial clinical staging. Thirty-two patients, ranging from 15 to 65 (mean, 46) years of age, were studied. Twenty-six (81%) were in Stages III and IV. Echocardiographic examination revealed that 17 patients (53%) had pericardial effusion (PE). Four subjects with lymphoblastic lymphoma and extensive mediastinal involvement had clinical and echographic signs of cardiac-tamponade. In 5 cases, pericardiocentesis was performed; abnormal lymphoblasts were demonstrated in 4. In one of these, the histological diagnosis of lymphoma was performed from analysis of the PE. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 32 (mean, 12.3) months. There was no difference in the survival rates whether or not PE was present: 70 and 68% respectively at 1 yr. No patient required intracavitary chemotherapy or surgery. We conclude that PE in advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with large mediastinal masses is frequent. Once tamponade is treated, the presence of PE has no adverse effect on survival at 1 yr.