[Evaluation of visceral adipose tissue and lipid level in premenopausal and postmenopausal women's]. / Evaluación del tejido adiposo visceral y de la concentración de lípidos en mujeres pre y posmenopáusicas.

BACKGROUND: Postmenopausal women present weight gain and intensification of obesity, especially visceral adipose tissue (VAT) increases in postmenopausal women. But it is still not clear whether abdominal fat increases during this stage independently of body weight. OBJECTIVE: compare the VAT and lipid profile between postmenopausal and premenopausal Mexican women. METHODS: A case control study in postmenopausal women matched for BMI with premenopausal women. Anthropometric and laboratory measurements as well as body composition analysis were performed. RESULTS: VAT was increased in postmenopausal women in contrast with premenopausal women (114.8 ± 39.5 vs 97.3 ± 29.0, p<0.05). Compared with premenopausal women, postmenopausal women showed higher total cholesterol (231 .6 ± 56.1 vs 206.8 ± 29.5 p <0.05), and LDL-cholesterol levels (145.9 ± 48.3 vs 121.7 ± 34.1, p < 0.05), whereas H DL-cholesterol remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study have demonstrated that Mexican postmenopausal women had a significant increment in visceral adipose tissue and in other metabolic risk factors, independent of the body mass index.

[Structural characteristics of prolactin, growth hormone and their receptors as determinants of biological actions]. / Características estructurales de la prolactina, la hormona de crecimiento, y sus receptores como determinantes de la acción biológica.

The pituitary hormones prolactin and growth hormone are structurally related. Both hormones exist in the circulation in several molecular forms, differing in aminoacid sequences, posttranslational modifications and fragments produced by proteolytic cleavage. Heterogencity may produce a diversity of inmunological and biological actions. It has been suggested that each of this forms may be a isohormone with a different physiological role. The predominance of one of them in serun could account for the complex and often contradictory actions of the hormones. In addition receptors also have structural homology and so the possibility exist that these hormones share binding affinity to the receptors and can produce endocrinological problems in some special conditions.

[Premenstrual asthma: relation to hormones]. / Asma premenstrual: relación con hormonas.

Exacerbation of asthmatic symptoms just before or at the time of menstruation documented in some women with asthma has been called "premenstrual asthma" (PMA). The effect of sex hormones on airway function has not been well studied in spite of much evidence to suggest, therefore about relationships between the sex hormones and airway. The investigations of (PMA) have been based on studies of asthmatics already aware of a deterioration of asthma premenstrually. Little is known, therefore, about relationships between the menstrual cycle with asthma and (PMA) subjects. Although the mechanism of PMA remains unclear.

[Historical considerations on the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus]. / Algunas consideraciones históricas del diagnóstico de la diabetes mellitus.

The concept if diabetes mellitus has suffered multiple and interesting definitions throughout the time. The initial acknowledgement was based on the observations made by lay people and later by clinicians. Experimental work on the genesis of diabetes mellitus was remarkable not only on the physiopathology of diabetes it self, but also on metabolic processes in general. At the present, diabetes mellitus is considered as an heterogeneous disease formed by various syndromes of different etiology. Moreover diabetes mellitus has become an important public health problem due to the chronic complications as cause of disabilities and death. In Mexico, recent surveys have confirmed that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is high and shows a geographic distribution which deserves to establish particular and specific health programs.

[Correlation of creatine phosphokinase blood level with prenatal fetal heart rate as a prognostic factor in tissue hypoxia]. / Correlación del nivel sanguíneo de creatin fosfoquinasa con los registros de la frecuencia cardiaca fetal anteparto, como un predictor clínico de hipoxia tisular.

The presence of a high serum activity of the creatinine phosphokinase enzyme (CPK) could be the result of an hypoxic tissue event. The existence of an ominous fetal heart rate tracing is a reliable method which indicates the presence of an hypoxic state in variable degrees. Thirty-five pregnancies between 34 and 41 weeks of gestation were prospectively studied to correlate both, CPK activity and cardiotocography, with perinatal morbidity and mortality. All the patients had antepartum fetal heart rate testing and pregnancy was terminated by cesarean section within seven days to the last fetal heart tracing. As soon as the baby was born, we took an umbilical cord sample to measure CPK activity and a second sample was also taken at 36 hours of life. All the neonates had pediatric, neurologic, electrocardiographic and sonographic evaluation within their 48 hours of extrauterine life. Two groups were created: Group A included 14 neonates with normal cardiotocographic tracings (control group) and Group B had 21 infants with abnormal tracings (study group). We found an elevated serum CPK activity with statistic significance in the next three conditions: a) In the sample at 36 hours of life when compared to the cord sample in the control group, p less than 0.001; b) In the neonatal sample at 36 hours of age when compared to the cord sample in the study group, p less than 0.001; c) In the neonates of the study group compared to the neonates of the control group at 36 hours of extrauterine life, p less than 0.05.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The somatostatin analog SMA (201-995) as adjuvant treatment in patients with external fistulae of the digestive system]. / El análogo de somatostatina SMS (201-995) como tratamiento adyuvante en pacientes con fístulas externas del aparato digestivo.

Six patients with gastrointestinal fistulae treated with a potent inhibitor of gastrointestinal hormones, the somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 are reported. All patients had severe intraabdominal diseases and underwent a mean of 3.5 surgery procedures during their hospital stay. When the patients were analyzed individually a mean reduction of 42.5% (P < 0.050 of basal fistulae output was observed after treatment. In three patients the fistulae closed after seven and ten days of treatment with the analogue; the other three patients died after a protracted hospital stay which included multiple admissions to the Intensive Care Unit. When the output of all fistulae treated where analyzed together it showed a tendency to decrease, but it didn't reach statistical significance.