Low energy reserves are associated with fasting susceptibility in Neotropical nectar bats Glossophaga soricina / Baixas reservas energéticas corporais estão associadas à susceptibilidade ao jejum da espécie Glossophaga soricina

Abstract Neotropical nectar-feeding bats consume large amounts of sugar and use most of their energy-rich diet directly from the bloodstream, suggesting an adaptation towards lower body energy reserves. Here we tested the hypothesis that bats Glossophaga soricina spare the energy costs of storing energy reserves, even if this would represent a risky susceptibility during fasting. Blood glucose concentrations in 18 h fasted bats showed a 40% decrease. Breast muscle and adipose tissue lipids, as well as carcass fatty acids and liver glycogen, were also decreased following fasting. The inability to keep normoglycemia following a short-term fasting (i.e. 28 h) confirm that nectar bats invest little on storing energy reserves and show a severe fasting susceptibility associated to this pattern. Our study also support the general hypothesis that evolutionary specializations towards nectar diets involve adaptations to allow a decreased body mass, which reduces the energy costs of flight while increases foraging time.

Resumo Morcegos nectarívoros que ocorrem na região Neotropical consomem grandes quantidades de carboidratos, e usam a energia obtida da dieta diretamente, a partir da glicose na circulação sanguínea. Esta adaptação sugere que morcegos nectarívoros tenham evoluído no sentido de apresentar adaptações fisiológicas que permitam o baixo armazenamento de reservas energéticas corporais. Nós testamos a hipótese de que morcegos Glossophaga soricina poupam o gasto energético envolvido com a formação de reservas energéticas teciduais, mesmo que isso represente uma arriscada suscetibilidade da espécie frente ao jejum. As concentrações de glicose apresentaram uma diminuição de 40% após 18 h de jejum. As concentrações de lipídios do músculo peitoral e do tecido adiposo, bem como as de ácidos graxos da carcaça e glicogênio hepático também diminuíram após 18 h de jejum. A incapacidade de manter a normoglicemia observada após o jejum de curto-prazo confirma que morcegos nectarívoros desta espécie não investem na formação de reservas energéticas, e apresentam, consequentemente, uma severa susceptibilidade ao jejum. Este estudo suporta a hipótese de que adaptações evolucionárias da espécie envolvem diminuição da massa corporal, reduzindo o custo energético do voo e aumentado o tempo de forrageamento.

Cefazolin concentration in the mediastinal adipose tissue of patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective: To measure the concentration of cefazolin in the anterior mediastinal adipose tissue of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, determining the variation of cefazolin concentration. Methods: Two samples of approximately 1g of subcutaneous tissue were collected from 19 patients who underwent surgery in December 2015: the first sample was collected right after sternotomy and the second one, before sternal synthesis with steel wires. Antibiotic dosage was administered through high performance liquid chromatography. Results: We observed a positive and statistically significant correlation between time 1 and cefazolin concentration (r=0.489 and P=0.039). For time 2 and cefazolin concentration, there was a negative and statistically significant correlation between both variables (r=-0.793 and P<0.001). A negative correlation was also observed between body mass index and cefazolin concentration at time 2 (r=-0.510 and P=0.031). The regression model showed that every 1-minute increase in time 1 corresponded to an increase of 0.240 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration, whereas every 1-minute increase in time 2 corresponded to a reduction of 0.046 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration. As for body mass index, every 1 kg/m2 increase corresponded to a reduction of about 0.510 µg/dL in cefazolin concentration. Conclusion: There was a positive and significant correlation between the initial time of surgery and cefazolin level in the first dosage. The evaluation of the second dosage showed a negative and significant correlation between cefazolin level and the second time of dosage. The concentration of cefazolin is under the influence of body mass index.

Maternal and fetal leptin level correlation with fetal macrosomia

Leptin seems to be a critical factor for overall fetal development. Macrosomia may place the mother and fetus or neonate at risk for adverse outcomes. To test if leptin level is implicated in macrosomia. The sample comprised 25 cases delivered full term normal weight infants, and 25 cases delivered full term macrosomicinfants. Maternal serum samples and fetal cord samples were withdrawn immediately after birth of the full term infants. Fetal leptin level was higher in macrosomic infants than normal weight infants. No difference in maternal leptin level between both groups was observed. Leptin levels related directly to quantity of body fat tissue in fetal macrosomia as there is leptinresistence causing elevated leptin levels

Changes of biomarkers with oral exposure to benzo(a)pyrene, phenanthrene and pyrene in rats

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants present in air and food. Among PAHs, benzo(a)pyrene(BaP), phenanthrene (PH) and pyrene (PY) are considered to be important for their toxicity or abundance. To investigate the changes of biomarkers after PAH exposure, rats were treated with BaP (150 microgram/kg) alone or with PH (4,300 microgram/kg) and PY (2,700 microgram/kg) (BPP group) by oral gavage once per day for 30 days. 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in liver microsomal fraction was increased in only BaP groups. The highest concentration (34.5 ng/g) of BaP, was found in muscle of rats treated with BaP alone at 20 days of treatment; it was 23.6 ng/g in BPP treated rats at 30 days of treatment. The highest PH concentration was 47.1 ng/g in muscle and 118.8 ng/g in fat, and for PY it was 29.7 ng/g in muscle and 219.9 ng/g in fat, in BPP groups. In urine, 114-161 ng/ml 3-OH-PH was found, while PH was 41-69 ng/ml during treatment. 201-263 ng/ml 1-OH-PY was found, while PH was 9-17 ng/ml in urine. The level of PY, PH and their metabolites in urine was rapidly decreased after withdrawal of treatment. This study suggest that 1-OH-PY in urine is a sensitive biomarker for PAHs; it was the most highly detected marker among the three PAHs and their metabolites evaluated during the exposure period and for 14 days after withdrawal.

Síndrome metabólico: primera parte / Metabolic syndrome: first part

El síndrome metabólico se define como el conjunto de factores de riesgo para enfermedad cardiovascular en ciertos individuos y su fisiopatología incluye a la resistencia insulínica. El término de síndrome de resistencia a la insulina describe las consecuencias de la insulinorresistencia y la hiperinsulinemia compensatoria. Ha habido una explosión en la investigación y el material educativo sobre el síndrome metabólico, lo cual demuestra el reconocimiento y la importancia por los clínicos. El síndrome de resistencia insulínica tiene un común denominador con la diabetes tipo 2 que va hacia la neuropatía, nefropatía y retinopatía; en cambio, en la hiperinsulinemia compensatoria, estos pacientes presentan hipertensión arterial, accidente cerebro-vascular, poliquistosis ovárica (PCOS) y esteatohepatitis no alcohólica. Realizamos una revisión de la literatura médica actual en lo referente al síndrome metabólico, su definición, resistencia a la insulina y acción insulínica, método para valorar la resistencia insulínica, consecuencias, obesidad visceral, leptina, citokinas, hormonas esteroideas, adiponectinas, relación con la Acantosis nigricans. Los clínicos debemos evaluar y tratar los factores de riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular, sin considerar si el paciente reúne o no los criterios para el diagnóstico de síndrome metabólico, ya que lo importante es evitar que se llegue a tener una enfermedad cardiovascular.

Metabolic syndrome is defined as the set of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in certain individuals and its pathophysiology includes insulin resistance, term that describes the consequences of insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia. There has been an esplosion of research and educational material on metabolic syndrome, all of which shows the recognition and importance syndrome and insulin resistance syndrome and insulin resistance have a common denominator with type 2 diabetes that can lead to neuropathy nephropathy; however in compensatory hiperinsulinemia, these patients, present hypertension, stroke, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. We reviewed the present medical literature with regard to metabolic syndrome, its definition, insulin resistance and insulinic action, methods to evaluate insulin resistance, consequences, visceral obesity, leptin, steroid hormones, citokines, adiponectines, and relationship with Acantosis nigricans. Clinicians should evaluate and deal with risk factors of cardiovascular disease, without considering if the patient meets or not the criteria for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome since the important thing are to avoid cardiovascular disease.

DDT y plaguicidas relacionados presentes en la leche materna y otros tejidos de mujeres sanas con embarazos de término / DDT and related pesticides in meternal milk and other healthy womenïs tissues with term pregnancies

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo y transversal. Fueron incluidas 10 pacientes sanas del Hospital Estatal de Ginecología y Obstetricia, que cursaron embarazo de término resuelto por vía abdominal. Durante la intervención quirúrgica se tomaron muestras de suero del cordón umbilical, suero y tejido adiposo materno. En todas las muestras, junto con la leche materna recolectada el día 10 del puerperio, se midieron las concentraciones de los siguientes plaguicidas organoclorados (POC): beta-BHC, gamma-BHC, heptacloro, aldrín, dieldrín, DDE, DDD, DDT y metoxicloro. Para las extracciones y purificaciones de los POC en los diferentes tejidos, se utilizó la metodología establecida por la EPA, (1980). La identificación y cuantificación de los plaguicidas se realizó mediante la comparación con estándares certificados por el NIST (National Institute of Standard Technology). Todas las determinaciones analíticas se realizaron en el Laboratorio de Estudios Ambientales del Centro de Ciencias Básicas de la Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes. En promedio, las características generales de las participantes fueron: primigestas, de 24.1 años de edad, casadas y de nivel socioeconómico bajo. En cuanto a los neonatos, de 39 semanas de edad gestacional, sexo femenino, de 3,311 g de peso corporal y talla de 51.1 cm. En todas las muestras analizadas se identificó por lo menos uno de los plaguicidas organoclorados estudiados. Los resultados del análisis de correlación entre las concentraciones de DDT total presentes en el suero materno con las identificadas en el tejido adiposo y suero del cordón umbilical fueron altamente significativas, r = 0.97 y 0.87, respectivamente. En la leche materna se encontraron las concentraciones más elevadas de DDT total, con un promedio de 2053 ng/g base lipídica, lo cual representa 2.8 veces más, la ingesta diaria aceptada, establecida por la FAO/OMS (0.005 mg/kg/día, IDA). Asimismo, la concentración de DDT total en el suero materno guardó relación exponencial creciente con la edad (r = 0.99).

effect of type II noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus on insulin binding to isolated adipocytes

In a trial to follow the mechanism of insulin resistance in type II diabetes mellitus, this study had been performed on 17 male diabetic patients and 17 male persons served as a control group matching the same age, weight and special habits. The diabetic groups showed both hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia [P 0.001 and P 0.001] comparing to the control groups. Insulin binding to isolated adipocytes prepared from subcutaneous fat after appendicectomy was measured. It showed a significant decreased ability of adipocytes to bind insulin in diabetic patients comparing to the control [P 0.05] group. This decrease in insulin binding could be accounted for by decreased numbers of insulin receptor sites per cell. On the other hand the insulin of diabetic patients was easily to be degraded comparing to the control group [P 0.001]

DDT levels in human body fat & milk samples from Delhi.

A study of 45 human fat samples from autopsy and surgery specimens from Delhi showed a mean total DDT level of 6.37 micrograms/g (SE +/- 0.36; range 3.34-9.12 micrograms/g). While these values compare well with those reported from India and abroad, they are much lower than those obtained from other areas of Delhi, confirming wide variation in the quantity of DDT sprayed in different pockets of this city. Twenty one human milk samples from Delhi showed a mean total DDT level of 0.144 ppm (micrograms/ml). Thus, many infants in Delhi appear to be consuming 3 to 5 times the permissible 5 micrograms/kg/day quantity of DDT. This study too indicates the need of continuous monitoring of DDT and other insecticides commonly used in India.