Oral propylene glycol modifies follicular fluid and gene expression profiles in cumulus-oocyte complexes and embryos in feed-restricted heifers.

Dietary supplementation with propylene glycol (PG) increases in vitro production of high-quality embryos in feed-restricted heifers. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of PG in feed-restricted heifers on follicular fluid insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1 concentrations, expression of IGF system genes in oocytes and cumulus cells and the expression of selected genes in blastocysts. Feed-restricted (R) heifers were drenched with water or PG during induced oestrous cycles (400mL of PG or water/drench, daily drenching at 1600 hours for the first 9 days of the oestrous cycle). Ovum pick-up (OPU) was performed after superovulation to produce in vitro embryos and without superovulation to recover oocytes, cumulus cells and follicular fluid. OPU was also performed in a control group (not feed restricted and no drenching). Follicular fluid IGF1 concentrations were reduced by R, and PG restored IGF1 concentrations to those seen in the control group. In cumulus cells, expression of IGF1, IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) and IGF binding protein 4 (IGFBP4) was decreased in the R group, and fully (IGF1 and IGF1R) or partially (IGFBP4) restored to control levels by PG. Blastocyst perilipin 2 (PLIN2; also known as adipophilin), Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX), SCL2A1 (facilitated glucose/fructose transporter GLUT1), aquaporin 3 (AQP3), DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) and heat shock 70-kDa protein 9 (HSPA9B) expression were decreased in R heifers; PG restored the expression of the last four genes to control levels. In conclusion, these results suggest that, during follicular growth, PG exerts epigenetic regulatory effects on gene expression in blastocyst stage embryos.

Dietary propylene glycol and in vitro embryo production after ovum pick-up in heifers with different anti-Müllerian hormone profiles.

Rapid genetic improvement in cattle requires the production of high numbers of embryos of excellent quality. Increasing circulating insulin and/or glucose concentrations improves ovarian follicular growth, which may improve the response to superovulation. The measurement of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) can help predict an animal's response to superovulation treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether increasing circulating insulin concentrations, through propylene glycol (PG) drenches, could improve in vitro embryo production in oestrus-synchronised superovulated heifers with different AMH profiles. Holstein heifers were grouped according to pre-experimental AMH concentrations as low (L) or high (H). The PG drench increased circulating insulin and glucose concentrations and reduced ß-hydroxybutyrate and urea concentrations compared with the control group. AMH was a good predictor of follicle and oocyte numbers at ovum pick-up (OPU), and of oocyte and embryo quality (AMH H>AMH L). PG in the AMH H group increased the number of follicles and blastocyst quality above that in the control group, but did not improve these parameters in the AMH L group. These results indicate that short-term oral PG supplementation modifies an animal's metabolic milieu and is effective in improving in vitro embryo production, after superovulation-OPU, more markedly in heifers with high rather than low AMH concentrations.

Obeso metabólicamente normal / Metabolically healthy obese patients

Introducción: La obesidad es un problema de Salud Pública que tiende a incrementarse y que compromete la salud de las personas. Objetivos: Conocer la prevalencia de obesos metabólicamente normales (OMN) en función de la presencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en una población adulta que presenta obesidad y obesidad mórbida. Diseño: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y de corte transversal. Lugar: Servicio de Endocrinología, Hospital Dos de Mayo, Lima. Perú. Participantes: Personas adultas sin enfermedades metabólicas. Intervenciones: En el período abril de 2009 a mayo de 2010, se estudió a todas aquellas personas adultas que consultaron por obesidad y que dijeron no tener diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensión arterial y dislipidemias. Se les pesó, talló y se midió su circunferencia de cintura (CC). Con las dos primeras se calculó el índice de masa corporal y quienes tenían 30 kg/m2 o más ingresaron al estudio. Se les midió insulina, glucosa y perfil lipídico. Con la glucosa, c-HDL, triglicéridos y la CC se determinó el síndrome metabólico y con la insulina y la glucosa, el modelo homeostático de evaluación de la resistencia en insulina (HOMA-IR), con la finalidad de identificar resistencia a la insulina (RI). Se dividió el grupo en dos: obesos de 30 a 39,9 kg/m2 y 40 kg/m2 y más. El análisis estadístico se efectuó con las pruebas de t-student y de chi-cuadrado, con un intervalo de confianza de 95 por ciento y nivel de significancia <0,05. Principales medidas de resultados: Promedio y desviación estándar de las variables estudiadas y prevalencia de OMN y OMnoN. Resultados: La población estudiada alcanzó a 158 personas, de las cuales 91,2 por ciento correspondió al género femenino. Entre las diferencias entre los dos grupos OMN y OMnoN, referente a las variables antropométricas y bioquímicas tuvieron significación estadística el peso, talla, CC, insulina y el HOMA-IR. La prevalencia de OMN, de acuerdo a Wildman, fue 7 por ciento en el total de obesos y...

Introduction: Obesity is a public health problem that tends to increase and compromises the health of the people. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of metabolically normal obese (OMN) subjects depending on the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in an adult population showing obesity and morbid obesity. Design: Observational, descriptive and cross-section study. Setting: Department of Endocrinology, Hospital Dos de Mayo, Lima, Peru. Participants: Obese adults without metabolic diseases. Interventions: The study was conducted during the period between April 2009 and May 2010 in all adults consulting for obesity and who declared not having type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension or dyslipidemia. Weight, height and waist circumference (WC) were obtained, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Those who had 30 kg/m2 or more were included in the study. Insulin, glucose and lipid profile were determined. Metabolic syndrome was determined through measurement of glucose, HDL-C, triglycerides and WC. Insulin resistance (IR) was diagnosed by glucose and insulin resistance homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Two groups were distinguished: obese with BMI of 30 to 39.9 kg/m2, and obese with BMI of 40 kg/m2 and more. Statistical analysis was performed using student t test and chi-square with a 95 per cent confidence interval and a significance level of <0.05. Main outcome measures: Average and standard deviation variables; prevalence of OMN and OMnotN. Results: From the 158 subjects, 91.2 per cent were female. The OMN and OMnotN groups showed statistically significant difference in weight, height, WC, insulin and HOMA-IR. OMN prevalence bt Wildman criteria was 7 per cent in all obese and 7.3 and 6.4 per cent in the OMN and OMnotN groups, while by Meiggs criteria it was 13 per cent, 15.5 and 2.1 per cent respectively. Conclusions: By the criteria used the study showed the presence of a reduced number of obese subjects considered OMN...

Riesgo cardiovascular en población infantil con sobrepeso y obesidad / Cardiovascular risk in infants overweight and obese

Introducción: El sobrepeso y la obesidad conducen a la aparición de comorbilidades como la diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensión arterial, dislipidemias. Objetivos: Determinar la presencia de riesgo cardiovascular en niños y adolescentes con sobrepeso y obesidad, por género y grupos de edad. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo, transversal. Participantes: Niños y adolescentes, de ambos géneros, comprendidos entre los 5 a 18 años. Intervención: El diagnóstico de sobrepeso y obesidad se hizo de acuerdo a la clasificación de Must y col. con los siguientes criterios: de 85 a 95 para el sobrepeso y más de 95 percentil obesidad. En sangre se determinó el perfil lipídico, glucosa e insulina; con estas dos últimas se determinó el índice HOMA, para identificar resistencia a la insulina (RI), mediante la ecuación de Matthew, el síndrome metabólico (SM) con la referencia de Cook y las dislipidemias (D) con las sugerencias de Friedman y de Daniels. Principales medidas de resultados: Riesgo cardiovascular. Resultados: Los obesos presentan mayores riesgos cardiovasculares que los que tienen sobrepeso: RI 77,8%, SM 22,2%; D: colesterol total (CT) 64,4%, C-HDL 33,3%, C-LDL 19,5% y triglicéridos (Tg) 40%. El género masculino, independientemente de su estado nutricional, tuvo mayor riesgo que el femenino: RI 74,1%, SM 22,2%, D: CT 63%, C-HDL 37%, C-LDL 36% y Tg 40,7%. En cuanto a la edad, en los mayores de 10 años se ha encontrado RI en 78% y C-HDL 31,7%; los demás factores de riesgo fueron mayores en los menores de 10 años. Conclusiones: Los riesgos afectaron más a los obesos que a los que tenían sobrepeso, más al género masculino y, en cuanto a la edad, los mayores de 10 años presentaron mayor prevalencia de RI y de C-HDL bajo. A mayor IMC más riesgo cardiovascular, lo que compromete muy seriamente la salud y que se hace más preocupante porque su aparición es a temprana edad.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity lead the occurrence of comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemias. Objectives: To determine the presence of cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents overweight and obese, by gender and age groups. Design: Cross sectional study. Participants: Children and adolescents of both genders, 5-18 year-old. Interventions: Diagnosis of overweight and obesity was done according to Must et al. classification with the following criteria: 85 to 95 for overweight and more than 95 percentile for obesity. Serum lipid profile, glucose and insulin were analyzed, and with the latter two HOMA index was determined to identify insulin resistance (IR), using Matthew´s equation, the metabolic syndrome (MS) with reference to Cook and dyslipidemias (D) with Friedman and Daniels’ suggestions. Main outcome measures: Cardiovascular risk. Results: Obese children had higher cardiovascular risks than overweight: IR 77.8%, SM 22.2%, D: total cholesterol (TC) 64.4%, HDL-C 33.3%, LDL-C 19.5% and triglycerides (Tg) 40%. Males had higher risk than females regardless of nutritional status: IR 74.1%, SM 22.2%, D: TC 63%, HDL-C 37%, LDL-C 36%, Tg 40.7%. Children over 10 had IR 78% and HDL-C 31.7%; other risk factors were higher in those under 10 years. Conclusions: Risks affected obese more than overweight children, more to males, and those over 10 years had higher prevalence of IR and low HDL-C. With higher BMI more cardiovascular risk and serious health compromise, worrisome because of early age onset.

Independent association between inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and TNF-alpha) and essential hypertension.

High blood pressure (HBP) has been associated with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of chronic mild inflammation. However, the association between HBP and other inflammatory markers, particularly interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis alpha (TNF-alpha), has not been evaluated in well-controlled studies. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between IL-6, TNF-alpha, and CRP and HBP in a random sample of 196 healthy subjects. All markers were measured in duplicate with high-sensitivity ELISA tests. Three blood pressure (BP) measurments were averaged for the analysis, and subjects with systolic BP >or=140 and/or diastolic BP >or=90 mmHg were considered hypertensive. Log binomial regression was used to estimate multivariate-adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) of HBP. Of the subjects, 40% (79) were hypertensive (mean age: 44 years; range 30-64). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, family history of HBP, and the level of the other inflammatory markers, subjects in the second (PR: 3.10, P=0.003), third (PR: 2.32; P=0.031), and fourth quartiles (PR: 2.30; P=0.036) of IL-6 were more than twice as likely to be hypertensive than those in the first quartile. Corresponding PR estimates for TNF-alpha levels were 1.41 (P=0.014) for the second; 1.59 (P=0.001) for the third; and 1.61 (P=0.025) for the fourth quartile. The CRP-HBP association was not statistically significant. Our results suggest that TNF-alpha and IL-6 could be independent risk factors for HBP in apparently healthy subjects. Nevertheless, the temporal relationship between elevated inflammation markers and HBP should be ascertained in prospective cohort studies.

Multicenter evaluation of efficacy, tolerability and safety of a new first-line antihypertensive drug, isradipine, in a Latin-American population.

Isradipine, a new antihypertensive dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, was evaluated for its efficacy, tolerability, and safety in 91 ambulatory patients who had mild-to-moderate hypertension. The design of the present study included a two-week wash-out period after confirmation of disease, followed by 12 weeks of active treatment with 2.5 mg isradipine twice daily. Patients were switched from other antihypertensive drugs, mainly diuretics and beta-blockers. The dose of isradipine remained virtually unchanged throughout the study and resulted in a mean decrease of 22 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P less than .00001) and 19 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P less than .00001). Heart rate was unchanged (difference of -1 beats/min), as was the mean body weight of the study patients. Isradipine was generally well tolerated. Side effects were few and, when present, tended to diminish and eventually disappear during the treatment period. All of the clinical laboratory parameters tested and electrocardiograph intervals remained unchanged. In conclusion, these results indicate that isradipine is a novel drug which is highly effective and well tolerated in the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension in this group of patients.