Retrospective evaluation of fluid overload and relationship to outcome in critically ill dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if critically ill dogs have an increased risk of fluid overload (FO) during hospitalization compared to less ill dogs, and to determine if FO is associated with increased mortality during hospitalization. DESIGN: Observational, case-control study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Thirty-four critically ill dogs and 15 comparatively healthy stable postoperative dogs with neuro-orthopedic disease. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data recorded included underlying disease, body weight, and APPLEfast score at admission, single-day and composite APPLEfull scores during hospitalization, total fluid volume administered (L), total fluid volume output (L), and outcome. Percent FO (%FO) was calculated using the equation 100 × ([fluid volume administered - fluid volume lost]/1000 mL/L) - (% dehydration at admission), with fluid volume expressed as mL/kg of baseline body weight. Critically ill dogs developed greater %FO during hospitalization compared to stable postoperative dogs (12.1 ± 11.7% vs 0.5 ± 5.2%, P = 0.001), and half (8 out of 16) of the dogs with %FO ≥ 12% died. Composite APPLEfull scores were weakly positively correlated with %FO, whereas APPLEfast and single-day APPLEfull scores recorded at admission were not. The odds ratio for death was 1.08 for every percent increase in FO during hospitalization (95% confidence limits 1.012-1.59, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Critically ill dogs are at increased risk for FO during hospitalization, and a weak but significant association exists between %FO, illness severity, and mortality. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm the findings of this retrospective study.

Evaluation of the impact of urban pollution on the quality of skin: a multicentre study in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: After pilot and preliminary studies aimed at identifying pertinent biochemical parameters, a multicenter clinical study was performed to evaluate the effect of pollution on human skin. METHODS: The clinical study was performed in collaboration with the 'Centre Régional de lutte contre le cancer de Montpellier' and the 'National Institute of Public Health of Mexico' on 96 subjects in Mexico City (exposed to pollution) and 93 subjects in Cuernavaca (less exposed to pollution). Both biochemical and clinical skin parameters were studied. RESULTS: The study demonstrated significant quantitative and qualitative modifications of parameters related to sebum excretion in Mexico City compared to Cuernavaca one: An increased level of sebum excretion rate, a lower level of vitamin E and squalene in sebum, an increase of lactic acid and a higher erythematous index on the face of the subjects. In the stratum corneum, a significant higher level of carbonylated proteins and a lower level of IL 1α were noticed, as well as a decrease of ATP concentration with a decrease of chymotrysin like activity, without modifications of corneodesmosin content and trypsin like activity. From a clinical point of view, a higher frequency of atopic and urticarial skins, a higher frequency of red dermographism, an important seborrheic status at the forehead level and a lower level of dandruffs were noted in Mexico City population. The analysis taking into account the sex does not modify the observed results. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated an important impact of polluted environmental conditions on skin quality, evidencing important modifications of superficial biochemical parameters. The cause/effects relationships of these modifications remain, however, to be further assessed by a complementary in vitro/in vivo approaches.

CD4 deficit and tuberculosis risk persist with delayed antiretroviral therapy: 5-year data from CIPRA HT-001.

SETTING: Port-au-Prince, Haiti. OBJECTIVE: To determine long-term effects of early vs. delayed initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on immune recovery and tuberculosis (TB) risk in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals. DESIGN: Open-label randomized controlled trial of immediate ART in HIV-infected adults with CD4 counts between 200 and 350 cells/mm(3) vs. deferring ART until the CD4 count was <200 cells/mm(3). The primary comparisons were CD4 counts over time and risk for incident TB, with 5 years of follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 816 participants were enrolled, with 408 in each treatment arm. The early treatment group started ART within 2 weeks, while the deferred treatment group started ART a median of 1.3 years after enrollment. After 5 years, the mean CD4 count in the early treatment group was significantly higher than in the deferred treatment group (496 cells/mm(3), 95% confidence interval [CI] 477-515 vs. 373 cells/mm(3), 95%CI 357-389; P < 0.0001). TB risk was higher in the deferred treatment group (unadjusted HR 2.41, 95%CI 1.56-3.74; P < 0.0001) and strongly correlated with lower CD4 counts in time-dependent multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Delays in ART initiation for HIV-infected adults with CD4 counts of 200-350 cells/mm(3) can result in long-term immune dysfunction and persistent increased risk for TB.

Physical activity and eating habits in public high schools from different regions in Brazil: the Saude na Boa project / Atividade física e hábitos alimentares em escolas públicas do ensino médio em diferentes regiões do Brasil: o projeto Saúde na Boa

PURPOSE: To analyze physical activity and dietary patterns of adolescents and young adults attending evening classes in high schools at two socioeconomic and culturally contrasting Cities in Brazil: Recife (in northern Brazil) and Florianopolis (in southern Brazil). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis (baseline data) of a school-based randomized trial (the Saude na Boa project), including 2,147 students (15-24 years of age; 55.7 percent females) from 10 schools in each city, pair-matched by size and location. Data were collected by questionnaire. RESULTS: Males were more active than females (p<0.001) in all three physical activity measures in the questionnaire: days/wk of 60+min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) - males 3.8 d/wk (s=2.3), females 3.2 d/wk (s=2.4); walk/bike to school - males 4.5 d/wk (s=2.4), females 4.1 d/wk (s=2.4); and, strength exercises - males 2.3 d/wk (s=2.5), females 0.8 d/wk (s=1.7). The prevalence of physical inactivity (zero d/wk of 60+ min MVPA) was significantly higher in Recife (p<0.001). Consumption of fruits was significantly higher in Recife than in Florianopolis (p<0.001), but no differences were observed for vegetable (p=0.28) and soda consumption (p=0.09). In general, one out of five students (21.7 percent) consumed fruits and vegetables <5 d/wk. CONCLUSIONS: Students attending evening classes (public high schools) in Recife tend to be older but are less likely be employed than their counterparts in Florianopolis. Participation in physical education classes was much more prevalent in Florianopolis (87.6 percent x 19.4 percent in Recife), especially for females. The prevalence of less than optimal eating habits and insufficient levels of physical activity justify the efforts to promote healthier behaviors in this transitional phase in life.

OBJETIVO: Analisar os padrões de atividade física e hábitos alimentares de adolescentes e jovens adultos matriculados no ensino noturno de escolas públicas do ensino médio em duas cidades com características culturais e socioeconômicas diversas no Brasil: Recife (Região Nordeste) e Florianópolis (Região Sul). MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional transversal dos dados de base de uma intervenção escolar randomizada (Projeto Saúde na Boa), incluindo 2.147 estudantes (15-24 anos; 55,7 por cento do sexo feminino) de 10 escolas em cada uma das cidades, pareadas por tamanho e localização. Os dados foram coletados por questionário. RESULTADOS: Os rapazes foram mais ativos que as moças (p<0,001) em todas as três medidas de atividade física no questionário: dias/sem com 60+min de atividade física moderada a vigorosa (AFMV) - rapazes 3,8 d/sem (DP=2,3), moças 3,2 d/sem (DP=2,4); caminhar ou pedalar para a escola - rapazes 4,5 d/sem (DP=2,4), moças 4,1 d/sem (DP=2,4); e exercícios de força muscular - rapazes 2,3 d/sem (DP=2,5), moças 0,8 d/sem (DP=1,7). A prevalência de inatividade física (zero dias/sem com 60+min de AFMV) foi significativamente mais alta em Recife (p<0,001). A frequência de consumo de frutas foi mais elevada em Recife do que em Florianópolis (p<0,001), não havendo diferença no consumo de legumes e verduras (p=0,28) e consumo de refrigerantes (p=0,09). Em geral, um em cada cinco estudantes (21,7 por cento) consumia frutas e verduras em menos de cinco dias da semana. CONCLUSÕES: Estudantes matriculados no período noturno em escolas públicas do ensino médio em Recife tendem a ser mais velhos, mas apresentam menor proporção de trabalhadores. A participação em aulas de Educação Física era bem mais frequente em Florianópolis (87,6 por cento x 19,4 por cento em Recife), particularmente para as moças. A prevalência de hábitos alimentares inadequados e insuficiente atividade física justificam os esforços para promoção de comportamentos mais saudáveis...

Antimycobacterial Naphthopyrones from Senna obliqua.

Bioactivity-directed fractionation of the methanolic extract of the stem and fruits of Senna obliqua led to the isolation of two known antimycobacterial natural products, quinquangulin (1) and rubrofusarin (2). Both compounds had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 12.0 microg/mL against Mycobacteriatuberculosis in radiometric culture. This is the first report of antimycobacterial activity associated with naphthopyrone compounds. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means including 1D and 2D NMR techniques and further confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Potential cancer chemopreventive constituents of the seeds of Dipteryx odorata (tonka bean).

A new cassane diterpene, dipteryxic acid (1), and a new isoflavonolignan, 5-methoxyxanthocercin A (2), as well as four known active compounds, isoliquiritigenin (3), 6,4'-dihydroxy-3'-methoxyaurone (4), sulfuretin (5), and (+/-)-balanophonin (6), and five known inactive compounds, butin, eriodictyol, 7-hydroxychromone, 7,3'-dihydroxy-8,4'-dimethoxyisoflavone, and (-)-lariciresinol, were isolated from an ethyl acetate-soluble extract of the seeds of Dipteryx odorata, using a bioassay based on the induction of quinone reductase (QR) in cultured Hepa 1c1c7 mouse hepatoma cells to monitor chromatographic fractionation. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic data interpretation. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was used to confirm the relative stereochemistry of compound 1. Selected compounds (3-5) were evaluated in a mouse mammary organ culture assay, with isoliquiritigenin (3) found to exhibit 76% inhibition at a dose of 10 microg/mL.

Activity-guided isolation of novel norwithanolides from depreasubtriflora with potential cancer chemopreventive activity.

Activity-monitored fractionation of a CHCl(3)-soluble extract of Deprea subtriflora using a quinone reductase induction assay led to the purification of subtrifloralactones A-J (1-10), 10 novel C-18 norwithanolides based on a new C(27) skeleton. These compounds were characterized by spectroscopic and chemical studies, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was used to confirm the structures of 1 and 4. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated for their cancer chemopreventive activity in terms of their ability to induce quinone reductase activity with cultured murine hepatoma cells, and compounds 1 and 6 were found to be highly effective.

[Bilharziasis in Martinique (author's transl)]. / La bilharziose a la Martinique

A study of 4,600 sera by means of a micro-method of complement fixation with a delipidated antigen allowed to evaluate the significance of intestinal bilharziosis at la Martinique and to precise its geographical distribution in the various areas of the island. The mean infestation ratio (about 27 0/0) is much higher than that obtained with parasitologic techniques; it confirms the great sensitivity of immunological methods and the high percentage of infested people in these areas. On the other hand the study of infestation ratio in the various places shows the role played by the hydrographic system and its relationship with the habitat: a fundamental opposition is observed between two areas: the North of the island, which is damp, with many rivers and highly infested, and the South, dry, with a much lower infestation ratio.

[Intestinal bilharziasis in Guadelupa]. / La bilharziose intestinale en Guadeloupe

The author studies the significance of intestinal bilharziosis in Guadeloupe. Immunologic methods have been used because of their greater sensitivity: a complement fixation micromethod using a delipidated antigen is described. The study of about 8,500 sera taken in various areas showed the significance of bilharziosis: the mean level of positive sera was 35%, a figure much higher than those obtained with parasitologic methods. The percentage observed in the various regions showed sometimes very great differences, which may be explained by various factors, the most important ones being the population density, the disposition of the hydrographic network and its relationships with habitat. Such a study, if it could be carried out during the next years, should allow to appreciate the efficiency of the control measures of the endemia.