Association between cardiovascular inflammation and alterations in immune system induced by HIV infection detected on [18F]FDG PET/MRI.

OBJECTIVE: To assess by [18F]FDG PET/MR the biomarkers of HIV-induced inflammation at baseline and 1 year post-antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: Prospective study, 14 patients, newly diagnosed HIV-positive, asymptomatic. [18F]FDG PET/MRI (PET/MR-3.0T, Signa.GE) whole body and heart was performed, baseline and 1 year post-ART. Qualitative vascular assessment (hepatic reference). Quantitative assessment (SUVmax) of the whole body. T1 and T2 value estimation in 16 myocardial segments. RESULTS: Baseline CMR showed in 3 (21.4%) a decreased LVEF, normalising post-TAR. Fibrosis was ruled out (T1), with no signs of myocardial oedema (T2) at baseline or post-TAR. Four (28.6%) showed baseline vascular [18F]FDG uptake, two in ascending thoracic aorta and two in ascending and descending thoracic aorta, normalising post-TAR. All (100%) showed basal lymph-nodes activity; supra (n:14) and infradiaphragmatic (n:13), laterocervical (n:14) and inguinal (n:13), with variable number of territories (9 patients >6;64.3%). Post-ART, 7 patients (50%) showed resolution and the other 7 reduction in extension (0 patients >5): 7 supra (100%) and 2 infradiaphragmatic (28.6%), 5 in the axilla and 2 in the groin. All (100%) had persistent basal adenoid uptake post-ART, 9 (64.3%) splenic all resolved post-ART and 7 (50.5%) gastric, persistent 3 post-ART. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular biomarkers by [18F]FDG PET/MR have shown baseline 28.6% of patients with large vessel activity and 21.4% with low LVEF, normalising post-ART. Inflammatory/immune biomarkers showed baseline activity in 100% of lymph-nodes, 100% adenoids, 64.3% splenic and 50.5% gastric. Post-TAR the reduction was 50% lymph-nodes, 0% adenoid, 100% splenic and 57.1% gastric.

Beer consumption reduces cerebral oxidation caused by aluminum toxicity by normalizing gene expression of tumor necrotic factor alpha and several antioxidant enzymes.

Aluminum (Al)-induced neurotoxicity is well known and different salts of aluminum have been reported to accelerate oxidative damage to biomolecules. The present study has examined whether silicon consumed in the form of silicic acid or beer could potentially inhibit aluminum toxicity in the brain. Male mice were administered with Al(NO(3))(3) orally at a dose of 450 mg/kg/day in drinking water for 3 month. Experimental mice were given Al(NO(3))(3) along with 50 mg/L of silicic acid or with 0.5 ml/day of beer. Al brain levels in the Al group were four times higher than those of control mice while silicic acid and beer group values were 40% lower than those of the Al group. We have observed that beer prevented accumulation of lipid damage significantly, which resulted from aluminum intake. Decline in the expression of mRNA of endogenous antioxidant enzymes associated with aluminum administration was also inhibited by beer and silicic acid. The tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) RNA expression was normalized in silicic acid and beer groups. Very high and significant correlations were found for the different parameters tested suggesting that moderate consumption of beer, due to its silicon content, effectively protects against the neurotoxic effects of aluminum.

Growth, yield of carcass and biochemical composition of meat and fat in nutria (Myocastor coypus) reared in an intensive production system.

Growth, carcass yield and proximate composition were determined in intensively reared nutria (Myocastor coypus) fed different levels of protein. Growth, food intake and food utilization efficiency were not significantly affected, within the same sex, in animals receiving 16%, 19% or 22% of protein in the diet. Males consumed the same amount of food as females but had greater live and carcass weights at slaughter age than females. Males had the highest meat yield and females had the highest fat content. Independent of dietary protein level, the pectoral muscles of all animals ranged from 19.2% to 23.6% protein, 1.97% to 2.47% total lipids, and 70.1 to 72.0mg of cholesterol in 100g of tissue. In the thigh muscles, the observed ranges were between 21.4% and 22.9% in proteins, 1.83% and 2.07 in total lipids and 69.9 and 71.0mg of cholesterol in 100g of tissue. The determination of classes of lipids shows more phospholipids contents in animals receiving 16% of protein in diet.

[Repeat laparoscopy in the management of biliary leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / Moznosti relaparoskopie pri osetrení biliární sekrece po laparoskopické cholecystektomii.

The incidence of bile leaks increased with the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in surgery. The present paper is focused on biliary leaks-their diagnosis and treatment in a large group of patients, with special emphasis on a miniinvasive approach. Nine biliary leaks were found (i.e. 0.72%). Four leaks resolved spontaneously, five were treated surgically with good results.

The impact of laparoendoscopic surgery on the training of surgical residents.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an accepted part of the training of surgical residents at present. Further procedures performed by residents include laparoscopic appendectomy, herniorrhaphy and others. This report analyzes the first 22 months of operative laparoscopy in Bakes Surgical Hospital and the impact on the training of residents. From September 1993 through May 1995 four residents performed 179 laparoscopic operations. Their operative experience has been shifted especially towards laparoscopic cholecystectomy but education in open cholecystectomy and open biliary tract procedures has not been jeopardized. It may be concluded that surgical residents can master essential laparoscopic operations without additional complications in a manner standard for training of other procedures.

IEF patterns of HLA-B13 antigens from Orientals and Caucasians.

HLA-B13 antigens were isolated from metabolically labeled cell extracts from Caucasian and Oriental donors by means of an HLA-B13-specific monoclonal antibody, SY1. Ethnic differences in B13 molecules were identified by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing in which the pI of desialated Oriental B13 molecules was found to be higher than that of Caucasians. An additional Caucasian variant pattern was detected by peptide mapping using limited proteolysis in sodium dodecyl sulfate analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Dual allotypic determinants for B13 molecules were recognized by two HLA-B13-specific monoclonal antibodies, SY1 and Tu110, as determined by their sensitivity to complement-dependent cell lysis. Whereas the SY1 target epitope was shared by both ethnic B13 molecules, the two ethnic B13 molecules carried different Tu110 target structures. The Caucasian variant molecules appear to carry altered allotypic determinants which are recognized by both SY1 and Tu110 antibodies. This study suggests that the HLA-B13 private structure may comprise two epitopes recognized by SY1 and Tü110 antibodies, respectively, whose binding sites overlap. Present data also suggest that the private determinant was already present when the two racial groups diverged, and thus the mutations which gave rise to the variants may be of relatively recent origin.