D-Lactate and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein are elevated in serum in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Experimental studies suggest that the intestinal barrier is affected in ischemic stroke. D-Lactate and intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (IFABP) are markers of intestinal mucosa integrity and barrier function. Our purpose was to evaluate the serum concentrations of these markers in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We included patients with AIS and used healthy subjects as controls. Clinical, demographic and outcome measures were recorded. Blood was drawn within 24 h of symptom onset. Serum concentrations of D-Lactate and IFABP were determined using commercially available colorimetric and ELISA kits, respectively. We included a total of 61 patients (median age of 64 years). The majority of patients were male (57.4%). The most common cause of stroke was atherosclerosis (34.4%), followed by small-vessel disease and cardioembolic (32.7% each). Mean admission NIHSS score was 8. Median IFABP and D-Lactate concentrations were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Concentrations were not associated with stroke severity or 3-month outcome. Patients with large-artery atherosclerosis and cardioembolic etiology had higher D-Lactate values than patients with small-vessel disease. D-Lactate and IFABP were significantly elevated in patients with AIS. This suggests that there is disruption of the intestinal barrier in patients with AIS.

Body frame size, body image, self-esteem, and health-related quality of life in schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between body frame size (BFS) and body image, self-esteem, and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in Mexican schoolchildren. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included children aged 6 to 11 years. Body image, self-esteem, and HRQL were evaluated through interviews. Two frame-size measures, biacromial and bitrochanteric diameters, were collected and summed for categorizing BFS as small, medium, or large. Height and weight were also measured. Spearman's correlations were determined and adjusted by sex, age, and body mass index (BMI). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed with the psychological measure as the binary dependent variable, the categories of BFS as the independent variable, and sex, age, and BMI as control variables. RESULTS: The correlation between BFS and body image was 0.15 (P < .01) and after BMI adjustment was 0.07 (P > .05). BFS did not correlate with self-esteem nor HRQL (P > .05). Of the children, 79% were dissatisfied with their body image, 20% had a low self-esteem, and 31.8% had a poorly perceived HRQL; there were no differences by BFS. The multivariate analysis showed that a large BFS was not associated with body image dissatisfaction (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.6-2.3), low self-esteem (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.6), or poor HRQL (OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8-2.2). CONCLUSIONS: BFS was not correlated with body image, self-esteem, or HRQL. A high self-esteem and a good level of HRQL prevailed, but a high proportion of children were dissatisfied with their body image. School interventions should promote an appropriate body image and a healthy lifestyle.

Metabolomic and biochemical characterization of a new model of the transition of acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease induced by folic acid.

BACKGROUND: Renal diseases represent a major public health problem. The demonstration that maladaptive repair of acute kidney injury (AKI) can lead to the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease has generated interest in studying the pathophysiological pathways involved. Animal models of AKI-CKD transition represent important tools to study this pathology. We hypothesized that the administration of multiple doses of folic acid (FA) would lead to a progressive loss of renal function that could be characterized through biochemical parameters, histological classification and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) profiling. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into groups: the control group received a daily intraperitoneal (I.P.) injection of double-distilled water, the experimental group received a daily I.P. injection of FA (250 mg kg body weight-1). Disease was classified according to blood urea nitrogen level: mild (40-80 mg dL-1), moderate (100-200 mg dL-1) and severe (>200 mg dL-1). We analyzed through biochemical parameters, histological classification and NMR profiling. RESULTS: Biochemical markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines and kidney injury biomarkers differed significantly (P < 0.05) between control and experimental groups. Histology revealed that as damage progressed, the degree of tubular injury increased, and the inflammatory infiltrate was more evident. NMR metabolomics and chemometrics revealed differences in urinary metabolites associated with CKD progression. The main physiological pathways affected were those involved in energy production and amino-acid metabolism, together with organic osmolytes. These data suggest that multiple administrations of FA induce a reproducible model of the induction of CKD. This model could help to evaluate new strategies for nephroprotection that could be applied in the clinic.

Body frame size in school children is related to the amount of adipose tissue in different depots but not to adipose distribution.

OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that body frame size is related to the amount of fat in different adipose tissue depots and to fat distribution in schoolchildren. METHODS: Children aged between 5 and 10 years were included in this cross-sectional study (n = 565). Body frame size, adiposity markers (anthropometric, skinfolds thickness, and ultrasound measures), and fat distribution indices were analyzed. Correlation coefficients adjusted by reliability were estimated and analyzed by sex; the significance of the difference between two correlation coefficients was assessed using the Fisher z-transformation. RESULTS: The sample included primarily urban children; 58.6% were normal weight, 16.1% overweight, 19.6% obese, and the rest were underweight. Markers of subcutaneous adiposity, fat mass and fat-free mass, and preperitoneal adiposity showed higher and significant correlations with the sum of the biacromial + bitrochanteric diameter than with the elbow diameter, regardless of sex. The fat distribution conicity index presented significant but weak correlations; and visceral adipose tissue, hepatic steatosis, and the waist-for-hip ratio were not significantly correlated with body frame size measures. CONCLUSIONS: Body frame size in school children was related to the amount of adipose tissue in different depots, but not adipose distribution. More studies are needed to confirm this relationship and its importance to predict changes in visceral fat deposition during growth.

An acidic sphingomyelinase Type C activity from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Sphingomyelinases (SMases) catalyze the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphorylcholine. Sphingolipids are recognized as diverse and dynamic regulators of a multitude of cellular processes mediating cell cycle control, differentiation, stress response, cell migration, adhesion, and apoptosis. Bacterial SMases are virulence factors for several species of pathogens. Whole cell extracts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains H37Rv and CDC1551 were assayed using [N-methyl-(14)C]-sphingomyelin as substrate. Acidic Zn(2+)-dependent SMase activity was identified in both strains. Peak SMase activity was observed at pH 5.5. Interestingly, overall SMase activity levels from CDC1551 extracts are approximately 1/3 of those of H37Rv. The presence of exogenous SMase produced by M. tuberculosis during infection may interfere with the normal host inflammatory response thus allowing the establishment of infection and disease development. This Type C activity is different from previously identified M. tuberculosis SMases. Defining the biochemical characteristics of M. tuberculosis SMases helps to elucidate the roles that these enzymes play during infection and disease.

Actividad de una esfingomielinasa ácida tipo C producida por Mycobacterium tuberculosis / An acidic sphingomyelinase Type C activity from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Sphingomyelinases (SMases) catalyze the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphorylcholine. Sphingolipids are recognized as diverse and dynamic regulators of a multitude of cellular processes mediating cell cycle control, differentiation, stress response, cell migration, adhesion, and apoptosis. Bacterial SMases are virulence factors for several species of pathogens. Whole cell extracts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains H37Rv and CDC1551 were assayed using [N-methyl-14C]-sphingomyelin as substrate. Acidic Zn2+-dependent SMase activity was identified in both strains. Peak SMase activity was observed at pH 5.5. Interestingly, overall SMase activity levels from CDC1551 extracts are approximately 1/3 of those of H37Rv. The presence of exogenous SMase produced by M. tuberculosis during infection may interfere with the normal host inflammatory response thus allowing the establishment of infection and disease development. This Type C activity is different from previously identified M. tuberculosis SMases. Defining the biochemical characteristics of M. tuberculosis SMases helps to elucidate the roles that these enzymes play during infection and disease.

Las esfingomielinasas (SMasas) catalizan la hidrólisis de esfingomielina a ceramida y fosforilcolina. Los esfingolípidos son reconocidos como reguladores diversos y dinámicos de una multitud de procesos celulares que median en el control del ciclo celular, la diferenciación, la respuesta al estrés, la migración celular, la adhesión y la apoptosis. Las esfingomielinasas bacterianas son factores de virulencia reconocidos en varias especies de patógenos. En este trabajo se analizaron los extractos de células enteras de las cepas de Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv y CDC1551 utilizando [N-metil-14C]-esfingomielina como sustrato. Se identificó actividad de SMasa-ácida dependiente de zinc en ambas cepas. La actividad máxima se observó a pH 5.5. Curiosamente, los niveles de actividad de SMasa generados a partir de extractos de la cepa CDC1551 son aproximadamente un tercio de los de la cepa H37Rv. La presencia de una SMasa exógena producida por M. tuberculosis durante la infección puede interferir con la respuesta inflamatoria del huésped, permitiendo así el establecimiento de la infección y el desarrollo de la enfermedad. Esta actividad tipo C es distinta de las actividades previamente reportadas para M. tuberculosis. Definir las características bioquímicas de las esfingomielinasas de M. tuberculosis ayudará a dilucidar el papel que desempeñan estas enzimas durante la infección y la enfermedad.

Gemfibrozil attenuates the inflammatory response and protects rats from abdominal sepsis.

Sepsis is a serious condition characterized by an infectious process that induces a severe systemic inflammatory response. In this study, the effects of gemfibrozil (GFZ) on the inflammatory response associated with abdominal sepsis were investigated using a rat model of cecal-ligation and puncture (CLP). Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: Sham-operated group (sham), where laparotomy was performed, the intestines were manipulated, and the cecum was ligated but not punctured; control group, subjected to CLP; and GFZ group, which received GFZ prior to undergoing CLP. The groups were then subdivided into three different time-points: 2, 4 and 24 h, indicating the time at which blood samples were obtained for analysis. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), malondialdehyde (MDA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined. The LDH, AST and ALT values were significantly elevated following CLP compared with those in the sham group, and GFZ treatment was able to reduce these elevations. GFZ also reduced the sepsis-induced elevations of TNF-α and IL-1. In conclusion, GFZ treatment was able to attenuate the inflammatory response associated with CLP-induced sepsis, by diminishing the release of inflammatory cytokines, thereby reducing tissue injury and oxidative stress.

Comparative effects of triflusal, S-adenosylmethionine, and dextromethorphan over intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a condition that stimulates an intense inflammatory response. No ideal treatment exists. Triflusal is an antiplatelet salicylate derivative with anti-inflammatory effects. S-adenosylmethionine is a metabolic precursor for glutathione, an endogenous antioxidant. Dextromethorphan is a low-affinity N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor inhibitor. There is evidence that these agents modulate some of the pathways involved in I/R physiopathology. Intestinal I/R was induced in rats by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 60 minutes, followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Rats either received saline or the drugs studied. At the end of the procedure, serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), malonaldehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were determined and intestinal morphology analyzed. I/R resulted in tissue damage, serum TNF-alpha and MDA elevations, and depletion of TAC. All drugs showed tissue protection. Only triflusal reduced TNF-alpha levels. All drugs lowered MDA levels, but only triflusal and S-adenosylmethionine maintained the serum TAC.

Celecoxib accelerates functional recovery after sciatic nerve crush in the rat.

The inflammatory response appears to be essential in the modulation of the degeneration and regeneration process after peripheral nerve injury. In injured nerves, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is strongly upregulated around the injury site, possibly playing a role in the regulation of the inflammatory response. In this study we investigated the effect of celecoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, on functional recovery after sciatic nerve crush in rats. Unilateral sciatic nerve crush injury was performed on 10 male Wistar rats. Animals on the experimental group (n = 5) received celecoxib (10 mg/kg ip) immediately before the crush injury and daily for 7 days after the injury. Control group (n = 5) received normal saline at equal regimen. A sham group (n = 5), where sciatic nerve was exposed but not crushed, was also evaluated. Functional recovery was then assessed by calculating the sciatic functional index (SFI) on days 0,1,7,14 and 21 in all groups, and registering the day of motor and walking onset. In comparison with control group, celecoxib treatment (experimental group) had significant beneficial effects on SFI, with a significantly better score on day 7. Anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib should be considered in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries, but further studies are needed to explain the mechanism of its neuroprotective effects.

Efecto de las soluciones parenterales maternas transparto y su relación con la hipoaglucemia neonatal / Relation of maternal parenteral solutionadministration during childbairth and newborn hypoglycemia

Introducción. Durante el trabajo de parto las madres permanecen en ayuno y rutinariamente reciben soluciones parenterales. Objetivo: determinar el impacto del tipo de solución proporcionada a la madre sobre los niveles capilares de glucosa en el neonato.Material y métodos. Se estudiaron 48 neonatos, a los que se les realizaron glucometrías capilares a los 10 y 70 min de nacidos; a las madres se les efectuaron glucometrías durante el período expulsivo. Los recién nacidos se dividieron en dos grupos: 24 hijos de madres que recibieron solución glucosada al 5 por ciento; y 24 solución Hartman. Se aplicaron las pruebas t de Student y coeficiente r2.Resultados. Se documentó glucometrías menores de 40 mg/dL (los primeros 70 min) en 70 por ciento de los hijos de madres con solución glucosada. Identificándose una r2=0.52 entre las glucometrías maternas y neonatales en el grupo que recibió solución Hartman; P =0.006 entre ambos grupos de neonatos a los 70 min de vida.Conclusiones. Se recomienda vigilancia metabólica en hijos de madres mantenidas con soluciones glucosadas durante el trabajo de parto. La administración de estas soluciones se observó ligada a glucometrías bajas en el neonato.

Cáncer hepático primario: características epidemiológicas, clínicas y bioquímicas / Primary hepatic cancer: epidemiological, clinical and biochemical characteristics

En este trabajo se revisaron retrospectiva y prospectivamente algunos aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos, bioquímicos y de gabinete del cáncer hepático primario (CHP) en pacientes internados en nuestro hospital. Este estudio comprende 76 pacientes estudiados de 1971 a 1990. 49 hombres y 27 mujeres. La edad promedio fue de 67.1 ñ 11.7 años. El carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC) fue el tipo histológico más frecuente (84.1 por ciento), seguido por el colangiocarcinoma (CC) con 8.7 por ciento, el carcinoma mixto (CM) con 4.4 por ciento y finalmente el hepatoblastoma (HB) con 2.9 por ciento. A parte, se revisó material de 1485 autopsias, encontrándose que la prevalencia de CHP fue de 0.74 por ciento y los sitios más frecuentes de metástasis fueron los pulmones (66 por ciento) y la vena porta (50 por ciento). El 80 por ciento de los casos de CHC diagnosticado por autopsia presentaban concomitantemente cirrosis hepática. Los síntomas generales y el dolor abdominal fueron las manifestaciones clínicas más comunes (72.5 por ciento). Además, se observó la fosfatasa alcalina elevada en el 77 por ciento de los casos, hiperbilirrubinemia en el 62 por ciento y anemia en el 62 por ciento. En el 61.7 por ciento el tumor fue bilateral o difuso. Todos los tumores solitarios medían más de 5 cms de diámetros por ecografía al momento del diagnóstico. La AFP fue normal en el 18 por ciento de los casos de CHC y el 40 por ciento de estos pacientes tuvo al menos un marcador positivo para el virus de la hepatitis B