Whey proteins inhibit food intake and tend to improve oxidative balance in obese zucker rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Whey proteins (WP), obtained from milk after casein precipitation, represent a heterogeneous group of proteins. WP are reported to inhibit food intake in diet-induced experimental obesity; WP have been proposed as adjuvant therapy in oxidative stress-correlated pathologies. This work evaluates the effects of WP in comparison with casein, as a source of alimentary proteins, on food intake, weight growth and some indexes of oxidative equilibrium in Zucker Rats, genetically prone to obesity. METHODS: We monitored food intake and weight of Zucker Rats during the experiment, and some markers of oxidative equilibrium. RESULTS: WP induced significant decrease of food intake in comparison to casein (WP 80.41 ± 1.069 ml/day; CAS: 88.95 ± 1.084 ml/day; p < 0.0005). Body weight growth was slightly reduced, and the difference was just significant (WP 128.2 ± 6.56 g/day; CAS 145.2 ± 3.29 g/day; p = 0.049), while plasma HNE level was significantly lower in WP than in CAS (WP 41.2 ± 6.3 vs CAS 69.61 ± 4.69 pmol/ml, p = 0.007). Mild amelioration of oxidative equilibrium was indicated by a slight increase of total glutathione both in the liver and in the blood and a significant decrease of plasma 4-hydroxynonenal in the group receiving WP. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of WP on food intake and weight growth in Zucker Rats is particularly noteworthy since the nature of their predisposition to obesity is genetic; the possible parallel amelioration of the oxidative balance may constitute a further advantage of WP since oxidative stress is believed to be interwoven to obesity, metabolic syndrome and their complications.

Genistein prevents ultraviolet B radiation-induced nitrosative skin injury and promotes cell proliferation.

Nitric oxide (NO) levels increase considerably after 24h of exposure of skin to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, which leads to nitrosative skin injury. In addition, increased NO levels after exposure to UVB radiation are associated with inhibition of cell proliferation. Compared to the UV-control group, UV-genistein at 10 mg/kg (UV-GEN10) group showed tissue protection, decreased lipid peroxide and nitrotyrosine formation, and low CAT activity. Furthermore, NO levels and iNOS labeling remained high. In this group, the reduction in lipid peroxides and nitrotyrosine was accompanied by upregulation of cell proliferation factors (Ki67 and PCNA), which indicated that prevention of nitrosative skin injury promoted cell proliferation and DNA repair. Genistein also prevented nitrosative events, inhibited ONOO(-) formation, which leads to tissue protection and cell proliferation. The UV-GEN15 group did not result in a greater protective effect compared to that with UV-GEN10 group. In the UV-GEN15 group, histological examination of the epidermis showed morphological alterations without efficient protection against lipid peroxide formation, as well as inhibition of Ki67 and PCNA, and VEGF labeling, which suggested inhibition of cell proliferation. These results help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the photoprotective effect of genistein and reveal the importance of UVB radiation-induced nitrosative damage.

Diagnosis of prostate cancer. State of the art.

The widespread acceptance of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement as an early detection method for prostate cancer (Pca), coupled with the recent heightened public awareness of Pca as a common disease, has led to an increase in the detection of Pca. It has been established that digital rectal examination (DRE) and PSA are the most useful front-line methods for assessing an individual's risk of Pca. In addition to an elevated PSA above 4 ng/mL and an abnormal DRE, the decision to proceed with TRUS-guided biopsy may also be supported by other factors. Determining the presence of a significant rise in PSA between tests, whether the degree of PSA is concordant with the size of the prostate, and age appropriate PSA may aid in the interpretation of this risk. Grayscale transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) has been established as the first choice imaging technique making it possible to take biopsies, measure the volume and obtain a general overview of the prostate. To improve, however, the TRUS detection rate of Pca, many ultrasonographic technique improvements have been introduced and continuously evaluated. As for prostate biopsy, in the prostate with visible lesions, lesion-guided biopsies only play a role in combination with systematic biopsies, while the systematic prostate biopsy scheme should at the present time include 10 or 12 cores according to prostatic weight. The other imaging techniques actually play a marginal role in Pca detection, but may be useful for staging newly diagnosed Pca or in patient re-staging in case of biochemical failure after radical treatment.

Ultrasound-guided interventional procedures of the liver during laparoscopy: technical considerations.

BACKGROUND: The increased application of laparoscopy to oncological cases has also expanded the applications of laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS). LUS-guided interventional procedures are often used for the staging of neoplastic disease. However, considerable expertise is required to perform the US-guided maneuvers. METHODS: Based on our 7-year experience with laparoscopic ultrasound, we discuss a number of technical and practical aspects related to the performance of interventional procedures during LUS of the liver. RESULTS: We performed 146 laparoscopic ultrasound exams in patients with neoplastic diseases. In all, 244 liver lesions were biopsied and 151 needle placements were made to perform radiofrequency ablation or ethanol injection. We discuss our choice of laparoscopic equipment and type of needle required (whether for biopsies or for interventional procedures). We also describe the technical characteristics of ultrasound probes and equipment, the correct approach to the patient, and the method that we employ to identify and then puncture the target lesion. CONCLUSION: The proper technique for interventional procedures during laparoscopic ultrasound can be mastered relatively quickly by a surgeon who is already familiar with traditional ultrasound techniques.