Carotenoid intake and SCD genotype exert complementary effects over fat content and fatty acid composition in Duroc pigs.

Nutritional and genetic strategies are needed to enhance intramuscular fat (IMF) and MUFA content without altering carcass leanness. Dietary vitamin A restriction has been suggested to specifically promote IMF, whereas a polymorphism of the () gene has shown to specifically increase MUFA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of provitamin A (PVA) carotenoid intake and genotype (>) on hepatic retinoid content and on the liver, muscle (LM and gluteus medius [GM]), and subcutaneous fat (SF) content and fatty acid composition. Following a split-plot design, 32 castrated Duroc pigs, half of each of the 2 homozygous genotypes (CC and TT), were subjected from 165 to 195 d of age to 2 finishing diets differing in the PVA carotenoid content (an enriched-carotene diet [C+] and a control diet [C-]). Both diets were identical except for the corn line used in the feed. The C+ was formulated with 20% of a carotenoid-fortified corn (M37W-Ph3) whereas the C- instead used 20% of its near isogenic M37W line, which did not contain PVA carotenoids. No vitamin A was added to the diets. The C- was estimated to provide, at most, 1,300 IU of vitamin A/kg and the C+ to supply an extra amount of at least 800 IU vitamin A/kg. Compared with the pigs fed the C-, pigs fed with C+ had 3-fold more retinoic acid ( < 0.01) and 4-fold more gene expression in the liver ( = 0.06). The diet did not affect performance traits and backfat thickness, but pigs fed the C+ had less fat (4.0 vs. 5.0%; = 0.07) and MUFA (18.3 vs. 22.5%; = 0.01) in the liver, less IMF (5.4 vs. 8.3%; = 0.04) in the GM, and more fat content (90.4 vs. 87.9%; = 0.09) and MUFA (48.0 vs. 46.6%; = 0.04) in SF. The TT genotype at the gene increased MUFA ( < 0.05) in all tissues (21.4 vs. 19.5% in the liver, 55.0 vs. 53.1% in the LM, 53.9 vs. 51.7% in the GM, and 48.0 vs. 46.7% in SF for TT and CC genotypes, respectively). Liver fat and MUFA content nonlinearly declined with liver all- retinoic acid, indicating a saturation point at relatively low all- retinoic acid content. The results obtained provide evidence for a complementary role between dietary PVA and genotype, in the sense that the TT pigs fed with a low-PVA diet are expected to show higher and more monounsaturated IMF without increasing total fat content.

Deterioro del reflejo acústico en pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo I / Acoustics reflex decay in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Introducción: Diversas investigaciones tratan de explicar la asociación entre Diabetes Mellitus (DM) y alteraciones auditivas, relacionándola con el tiempo de evolución, control metabólico, entre otros, encontrando variados resultados. El parámetro menos investigado es el deterioro del reflejo acústico (ARD). Objetivo: Caracterizar el ARD en pacientes con DM tipo 1. Asimismo, relacionar el ARD con el tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad, el grado de control metabólico y la edad. Material y método: Estudio transversal de tipo descriptivo correlacional Se evaluaron 92 oídos en 500 Hz y 99 oídos en 1.000 Hz, con edades entre 4y 68 años, de ambos géneros, con un tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad entre un mes y 44 años. Se realizó un análisis frecuencial del ARD y estadística no paramétrica mediante el coeficiente Rho de Spearman. Resultados: En ambas frecuencias la mayoría no presenta ARD, mientras que 2,2% en 500 Hz y 3,0% en 1.000 Hz presenta ARD patológico. No existiendo correlación entre el ARD con tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad, el grado de control metabólico y la edad de los sujetos. Conclusión: Existe un bajo porcentaje de ARD patológico y una ausencia de correlación con características propias de la enfermedad coincidiendo con otras investigaciones que han utilizado otras herramientas evaluativas.

Introduction: Various studies try to explain the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired hearing, relating it to the time of evolution, metabolic control, among others, finding mixed results. The parameter under investigation is the acoustic reflex decay (ARD). Aim: To characterize the ARD in patients with type 1 DM. Also relate the ARD with time of evolution of the disease, metabolic control and age. Material and method: Cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. 92 ears were evaluated in 50 0Hz and 99 ears in 1000 Hz, with ages between 4 and 68 years, of both genders, with a time of evolution of the disease from one month to 44 years. Frequency analysis of the ARD were performed and nonparametric statistics by Spearman's Rho coefficient. Results: In both frequencies most ears do not have ARD, while 2.2% in 500 Hz and 3.0% in 1000 Hz showed ARD pathological features. No correlation exists between the ARD with time of evolution of the disease, metabolic control and age of subjects. Conclusion: There is a low percentage of ARD pathological and lack of correlation with disease characteristics, coinciding with other studies that have used differents assessment tools.

Transcriptional analysis of intramuscular fatty acid composition in the longissimus thoracis muscle of Iberian × Landrace back-crossed pigs.

This study aimed at identifying differential gene expression conditional on the fatty acid profile of the longissimus thoracis (Lt) muscle, a prime cut of economic relevance for fresh and cured pork production. A population of 110 Iberian (25%) × Landrace (75%) back-crossed pigs was used, because these two breeds exhibit extreme profiles of intramuscular saturated fatty acid, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents. Total RNA from Lt muscle was individually hybridized to GeneChip Porcine Genome arrays (Affymetrix). A principal component analysis was performed with data from the 110 animals to select 40 extreme animals based on the total fatty acid profile and the MUFA composition (MAP). Comparison of global transcription levels between extreme fatty acid profile pigs (n = 40) resulted in 219 differentially expressed probes (false discovery rate <0.10). Gene ontology, pathway and network analysis indicated that animals with higher percentages of PUFA exhibit a shift toward a more oxidative muscular metabolism state, with a raise in mitochondria function (PPARGC1A, ATF2), fatty acid uptake and oxidation (FABP5, MGLL). On the other hand, 87 probes were differentially expressed between MUFA composition groups (n = 40; false discovery rate <0.10). In particular, muscles rich in n-7 MUFA expressed higher levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism (GLUL, CRAT, PLA2G15) and lower levels of fatty acid elongation genes (ELOVL5). Moreover, the chromosomal position of FABP5, PAQR3, MGLL, PPARGC1A, GLUL and ELOVL5 co-localized with very relevant QTL for fat deposition and composition described in the same resource population. This study represents a complementary approach to identifying genes underlying these QTL effects.

Hypercalcemia, hypervitaminosis A and 3-epi-25-OH-D3 levels after consumption of an "over the counter" vitamin D remedy. a case report.

Intoxication from vitamin D supplements has been rarely reported but, nowadays, it occurs more frequently. 3-epi-25-OH-D(3) is highly prevalent in adults and it is considered of biological relevance. We report a case of vitamin D toxicity with hypercalcemia, acute renal failure and hypervitaminosis A after consuming an over-the-counter vitamin D supplement. Our data suggest that the contribution of 3-epi-25-OH-D(3) is not altered during vitamin D toxicity, although the serum levels of 25-OH-D(3) and 3-epi-25-OH-D(3) may display a different rate of clearance. The patient also displayed hypervitaminosis A unrelated to diet, possibly caused by renal failure related to the hypercalcemia induced by vitamin D toxicity. Because of the increasing use of over-the-counter vitamin D supplements and the potential iatrogenic hypercalcemia related to hypervitaminosis A, the present case highlights the importance of evaluating both the use of (non-) prescribed medication and vitamin A status during vitamin D toxicity.

Synthesis and study of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the specific extraction of indole alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus extracts.

Two molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) for catharanthine and vindoline have been synthesized in order to specifically extract these natural indole alkaloids from Catharanthus roseus by solid-phase extraction (SPE). Each MIP was prepared by thermal polymerisation using catharanthine (or vindoline) as template, methacrylic acid (or itaconic acid) as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) as cross-linking agent and acetonitrile (or acetone) as porogenic solvent. For catharanthine-MIP, a SPE protocol (ACN-AcOH 99/1 washing and MeOH-AcOH 90/10 elution) allows a good MIP/NIP selectivity (imprinting factor 12.6). The specificity of catharanthine-MIP versus related bisindole alkaloids was assessed by cross-reactivity study. The catharanthine-MIP specifically retained catharanthine and its N-oxide analogue but displayed a weak cross-reactivity for other Vinca alkaloids (vinorelbine, vincristine, vinblastine, vindoline, vinflunine). It appears that the catharanthine-like unit of these molecules are hardly trapped in catharanthine cavities located in the MIP, probably due to the sterical hindrance of the vindoline moiety. Finally, the MIP-SPE applied to C. roseus extract enabled quantitative recovery of catharanthine (101%) and the total removal of vindoline. Its capacity was determined and was equal to 2.43 µmol g(-1). Vindoline is a weaker base than catharanthine, so the vindoline-MIP was achieved with a strong acidic monomer (itaconic acid) to increase vindoline-monomer interactions and a modified washing solvent (ACN-HCOOH 99/1) to reduce non-specific interactions. The influence of the amount of HCOOH (protic modifier) percolated during the washing step upon the elution yield and the imprinting factor for vindoline was investigated. This preliminary optimisation of the washing step, and in particular the number of moles of acid percolated, seems useful to emphasize the use of MIP in conditions of high selectivity or high yield. A compromise was obtained with an imprinting factor equal to 7.6 and an elution recovery of 33%. However MIP-vindoline failed to achieve a specific extraction of vindoline since catharanthine was also extracted probably because of strong non-specific interactions occurring between catharanthine and the sorbent.

Tasa de tiroidectomías por cáncer y por enfermedades benignas tiroídeas y su posible relación con un déficit de selenio ambiental / Rate of thyroidectomy by cancer and benign thyroid diseases and its possible relation with a deficit of selenium environmental

Recientemente hemos reportado el déficit de selenio ambiental, y el estatus alterado de selenio medido como actividad de Glutatión Peroxidasa en población beneficiaria del Servicio de Salud de Osorno. Estos déficits se asocian a alteraciones funcionales y estructurales del tiroides que se correlacionan con la aparición de enfermedades tiroídeas benignas y cáncer tiroídeo. El objetivo de este trabajo es mostrar la tasa de tiroidectomías por cáncer y por enfermedades benignas que se presentan en las comunas que habitan la población beneficiaria del Servicio de Salud Osorno y llamar la atención sobre su posible asociación con el estatus alterado de selenio y la menor actividad de Glutatión Peroxidasa descrita previamente.

We have recently reported the lack of environmental selenium and the altered selenium status measured as deficient glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the population affiliated to the Osorno Health Service. These deficits are associated to functional and structural abnormalities of the thyroid gland that correlates with the appearance of benign thyroid pathologies and thyroid cancer. The aim of this investigation is to show the rate of thyroidectomy associated with malign and benign disease in the communities associated to the Osorno Health Service and warn about their possible link with the poor amount of selenium in the environment and the altered function of the GPx enzyme, previously described.

Pronóstico de mortalidad al ingreso en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos del Hospital Regional de Talca / Prognosis of mortality to the enter the unit of pediatric intensive care of the Regional Hospital of Talca

Introducción. Es importante contar con un sistema que identifique la gravedad y pronóstico del paciente que ingresa a una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos, que además sea comparable con unidades similares. El PIM (Paediatric Index of Mortality) es un instrumento validado, considera variables clínicas y de laboratorio, evaluadas al ingreso y aplicables a nuestro medio. Objetivo. Evaluar el rol pronóstico de dicho indicador en nuestra población pediátrica. Método. Se aplicó en forma prospectiva a todos los pacientes ingresados a la UCIPED del Hospital Regional de Talca desde octubre del 2000 a agosto del 2001 y los resultados junto a datos de los pacientes como edad, sexo, procedencia, patología y evolución fueron almacenados y analizados con el software EP16. Resultados. En los 10 meses ingresaron 270 pacientes, 250 fueron incluidos en el estudio. Fallecen 29 (11.6 por ciento). El PIM promedio fue 10.47 por ciento. Además hubo una gran correlación entre el PIM calculado al ingreso y la mortalidad observada en variables como edad, sexo, procedencia y diversos síndromes exceptuando sepsis y TEC. El PIM de los pacientes fallecidos también fue mucho más alto respecto de los no fallecidos (42.76 vs 6.23) y esta diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa. (p<0.0001). Discusión. El PIM identificó de una manera consistente a aquellos pacientes con una mayor probabilidad de muerte y su pronóstico tanto individual como grupal fue muy cercano a lo observado y debe implementarse en forma rutinaria en las unidades de cuidados intensivos pediátricas.

Prolidase deficiency with hyperimmunoglobulin E: a case report.

Prolidase deficiency is a rare, inherited disorder characterized by ulceration of the skin, mental retardation, and massive urinary excretion of imidodipeptides. Most patients also have recurrent infections, an unusual facial appearance, and splenomegaly. We describe a girl presenting with chronic dermatitis, recurrent respiratory tract infections since her first months of life, and facial features characteristic of prolidase deficiency. The diagnosis of prolidase deficiency was made at 4.5 months of age. The immunologic study in this patient showed an extreme and progressive increase of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum (reaching the value of 77,600 IU/l) and defective chemotactic function of the neutrophils. Treatment with a hyper-proteic diet supplemented with ascorbic acid, manganese chlorite, and topical proline resulted in reduction of the frequency and severity of the infections and significant improvement of the skin lesions. The authors discuss the immunologic alterations and the favorable evolution with treatment in this patient.

Iridoids from Stachys grandidentata (Labiatae).

Monomelittoside, melittoside, 8-acetyl-harpagide, harpagide, ajugol, 5-desoxy-harpagide, 5-desoxy-8-acetylharpagide and catalpol were isolated from the aerial parts of S. grandidentata.

Propolis from Chilean matorral hives.

Viscidone (0.5%), vanillin, 3',4'-(methylendioxy)acetophenone, 3-ethoxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde, cinnamic acid, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymethyl ester were isolated from propolis of hives from Cuncumen. This is the first report on propolis composition of an arid and a Mediterranean type climate area.

Characterization of Galician (N.W. Spain) quality brand potatoes: a comparison study of several pattern recognition techniques.

Authenticity is an important food quality criterion and rapid methods to guarantee it are widely demanded by food producers, processors, consumers and regulatory bodies. The objective of this work was to develop a classification system in order to confirm the authenticity of Galician potatoes with a Certified Brand of Origin and Quality (CBOQ) 'Denominación Específica: Patata de Galicia' and to differentiate them from other potatoes that did not have this CBOQ. Ten selected metals were determined by atomic spectroscopy in 102 potato samples which were divided into two categories: CBOQ and non-CBOQ potatoes. Multivariate chemometric techniques, such as cluster analysis and principal component analysis, were applied to perform a preliminary study of the data structure. Four supervised pattern recognition procedures [including linear discriminant analysis (LDA), K-nearest neighbours (KNN), soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) and multilayer feed-forward neural networks (MLF-ANN)] were used to classify samples into the two categories considered on the basis of the chemical data. Results for LDA, KNN and MLF-ANN are acceptable for the non-CBOQ class, whereas SIMCA showed better recognition and prediction abilities for the CBOQ class. A more sophisticated neural network approach performed by the combination of the self-organizing with adaptive neighbourhood network (SOAN) and MLF network was employed to optimize the classification. Using this combined method, excellent performance in terms of classification and prediction abilities was obtained for the two categories with a success rate ranging from 98 to 100%. The metal profiles provided sufficient information to enable classification rules to be developed for identifying potatoes according to their origin brand based on SOAN-MLF neural networks.