Trace elements as potential modulators of puberty-induced amelioration of oxidative stress and inflammation in childhood obesity.

Although puberty is known to influence obesity progression, the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of sexual maturation in obesity-related complications remains largely unexplored. Here, we delve into the impact of puberty on the most relevant pathogenic hallmarks of obesity, namely oxidative stress and inflammation, and their association with trace element blood status. To this end, we studied a well-characterized observational cohort comprising prepubertal (N = 46) and pubertal (N = 48) children with obesity. From all participants, plasma and erythrocyte samples were collected and subjected to metallomics analysis and determination of classical biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Besides the expected raise of sexual hormones, pubertal children displayed better inflammatory and oxidative control, as reflected by lower levels of C-reactive protein and oxidative damage markers, as well as improved antioxidant defense. This was in turn accompanied by a healthier multielemental profile, with increased levels of essential elements involved in the antioxidant system and metabolic control (metalloproteins containing zinc, molybdenum, selenium, and manganese) and decreased content of potentially deleterious species (total copper, labile free iron). Therefore, our findings suggest that children with obesity have an exacerbated inflammatory and oxidative damage at early ages, which could be ameliorated during pubertal development by the action of trace element-mediated buffering mechanisms.

Physical activity and metabolic syndrome severity among older adults at cardiovascular risk: 1-Year trends.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Modifiable lifestyle factors, such as physical activity (PA) and Mediterranean diet (MD), decrease metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim was to assess 1-year changes of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), sedentary behavior, and diet quality according to MetS severity in older population at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective analysis of 55-75-year-old 4359 overweight/obese participants with MetS (PREDIMED-Plus trial) categorized in tertiles according to 1-year changes of a validated MetS severity score (MetSSS). Anthropometrics, visceral adiposity index, triglycerides and glucose index, dietary nutrient intake, biochemical marker levels, dietary inflammatory index, and depression symptoms were measured. Diet quality was assessed by 17-item MD questionnaire. PAs were self-reported using the Minnesota-REGICOR Short Physical Activity Questionnaire and 30-s chair stand test. Sedentary behaviors were measured using the Spanish version of the Nurses' Health Study questionnaire. After 1-year follow-up, decreasing MetSSS was associated with an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern, high intake of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grain cereals, white fish, and bluefish and low intake of refined cereals, red and processed meat, cookies/sweets, and snacks/ready-to-eat-meals. It resulted in high intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins B1, B6, B9, C, D, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus and low glycemic index and saturated fatty acid, trans fatty acid, and carbohydrates intake. Regarding PA and sedentary behavior, decreasing MetSSS was associated with increased moderate-to-vigorous LTPA, chair stand test, and decreased sedentary and TV-viewing time. CONCLUSION: Decreasing MetSSS was associated with an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern, high LTPA, high MD adherence, low sedentary time, and low depression risk.

A comparison of posterior segment optical coherence tomography findings in full-term and preterm children without retinopathy of prematurity.

Purpose: Structural differences have been described in the retina of prematurely born children, including increased macular thickness caused by failed migration of the inner retina during development and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning related to low birth weight. The present study aimed to evaluate the differences in macular and RNFL optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings between full-term and preterm children without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Methods: Thirty-four premature (study group) and 43 full-term patients (control group)-aged 3 to 8 years-were studied. All children underwent a complete ophthalmological exam and OCT of the macula and optic nerve in both eyes to determine macular and RNFL thickness and morphology. Correlation analysis between central macular thickness, age, and visual acuity was also performed. Results: Central macular thickness was greater in the study group than in the control group; a difference of 14.2 µm was observed for the right eye (P = 0.002) and 12.16 µm for the left eye (P = 0.019). The thickness of the parafoveal and the perifoveal zones was consistently greater in the study group. 44.3% of eyes in the study group had mild forms of foveal hypoplasia (grades 1a and 1b) in qualitative description. No correlation between central macular thickness and visual acuity was found. There was no difference in RNFL thickness between both groups. Conclusion: Statistically significant structural differences were found in the macula of premature children, with a greater foveal thickness possibly reflecting retention of the inner retina during development, with no repercussion over visual acuity. RNFL thickness was similar in both groups.

Alteraciones oftalmológicas en una cohorte de niños con antecedente de nacimiento pretérmino en Bogotá, Colombia / Ophthalmologic alterations in a cohort of children with a history of pre-term birth in Bogota, Colombia

Introducción: La prematuridad se asocia con secuelas oftalmológicas graves, como la retinopatía de la prematuridad (RP), pero otras menos reconocidas incluyen una menor agudeza visual y una mayor frecuencia de defectos refractivos y estrabismo. Objetivo: Describir las alteraciones oftalmológicas encontradas en una cohorte de niños de entre 3 y 8 años con antecedente de prematuridad. Método: Estudio de cohorte prospectiva que incluyó 62 pacientes del programa canguro del Hospital Militar Central (Bogotá). Se registraron antecedentes perinatales y se realizó valoración oftalmológica completa. Se determinaron prevalencias de baja agudeza visual, defectos refractivos y estrabismo, y se compararon subgrupos según peso y edad gestacional. Resultados: La prevalencia de RP fue del 1.61%, correspondiente a una paciente ciega con estadio V. Esta cifra fue significativamente más baja que la reportada en otros estudios, pero concordante con la frecuencia esperada para RP grave. El 10.48% tenían agudezas visuales < 20/40, incluyendo dos pacientes con no percepción de luz y no fija, no sigue, no mantiene, como secuelas de RP y alteraciones neurológicas, pertenecientes al subgrupo de prematuridad extrema, con significancia estadística. Se encontraron unas prevalencias del 87.09% para hipermetropía, el 6.14% para miopía y el 62.9% para astigmatismo. La menor frecuencia de miopía se debe posiblemente al bajo número de pacientes con RP. La prevalencia de estrabismo fue del 30.65%, siendo más frecuente la exotropía, con un 20.97%, sin diferencias en el análisis por subgrupos. Conclusiones: La morbilidad oftalmológica es una secuela importante de la prematuridad. Un porcentaje considerable tendrá baja agudeza visual, debido a defectos refractivos, estrabismo, alteraciones neurológicas y RP, la cual sigue siendo una importante causa de ceguera infanti

Introduction: Pre-term birth is associated with serious ophthalmic sequelae like retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), but other less recognized include decreased visual acuity, and higher frequency of refractive errors and strabismus. Objective: Describe ophthalmological alterations found in a cohort of children between 3 to 5 years of age with a history of preterm birth. Method: Prospective cohort study, including 62 patients from kangaroo mother care program in Central Military Hospital (Bogotá). Perinatal factors were registered and complete ophthalmic examination was performed. Prevalence of low visual acuity, refractive errors and strabismus were determined, and groups according to birth weight and gestational age were compared. Results: Prevalence of RP was 1.61%, corresponding to a blind patient with stage V disease, this is considerably lower than that reported in other studies, but consistent with expected frequency for severe RP. 10.48% of eyes had visual acuity worse than 20/40, including 2 patients with NLP and NFNSNM, secondary to RP and neurologic alterations, who belong to the extreme preterm subgroup, with statistical significance. Prevalence of 87.09% were found for hyperopia, 6.14% for myopia and 62.9% for astigmatism. Lesser frequency of myopia is possibly due to the low number of patients with RP. Prevalence of strabismus was 30.65%, being exotropia the most common deviation with 20.97%, with no difference in subgroup analysis. Conclusions: Ophthalmic morbidity is an important sequel of prematurity. A considerable percentage will have low visual acuity secondary to refractive errors, strabismus, neurological alterations, and RP, which remains a major cause of childhood blindness

Metabolic Syndrome Features and Excess Weight Were Inversely Associated with Nut Consumption after 1-Year Follow-Up in the PREDIMED-Plus Study.

BACKGROUND: High nut consumption has been previously associated with decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) regardless of race and dietary patterns. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess whether changes in nut consumption over a 1-y follow-up are associated with changes in features of MetS in a middle-aged and older Spanish population at high cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS: This prospective 1-y follow-up cohort study, conducted in the framework of the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Plus randomized trial, included 5800 men and women (55-75 y old) with overweight/obesity [BMI (in kg/m2) ≥27 and <40] and MetS. Nut consumption (almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and other nuts) was assessed using data from a validated FFQ. The primary outcome was the change from baseline to 1 y in features of MetS [waist circumference (WC), glycemia, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure] and excess weight (body weight and BMI) according to tertiles of change in nut consumption. Secondary outcomes included changes in dietary and lifestyle characteristics. A generalized linear model was used to compare 1-y changes in features of MetS, weight, dietary intakes, and lifestyle characteristics across tertiles of change in nut consumption. RESULTS: As nut consumption increased, between each tertile there was a significant decrease in WC, TG, systolic blood pressure, weight, and BMI (P < 0.05), and a significant increase in HDL cholesterol (only in women, P = 0.044). The interaction effect between time and group was significant for total energy intake (P < 0.001), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) (P < 0.001), and nut consumption (P < 0.001). Across tertiles of increasing nut consumption there was a significant increase in extra virgin olive oil intake and adherence to the MedDiet; change in energy intake, on the other hand, was inversely related to consumption of nuts. CONCLUSIONS: Features of MetS and excess weight were inversely associated with nut consumption after a 1-y follow-up in the PREDIMED-Plus study cohort. This trial was registered at isrctn.com as ISRCTN89898870.

Association between dairy product consumption and hyperuricemia in an elderly population with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The prevalence of hyperuricemia has increased substantially in recent decades. It has been suggested that it is an independent risk factor for weight gain, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and cardiovascular disease. Results from epidemiological studies conducted in different study populations have suggested that high consumption of dairy products is associated with a lower risk of developing hyperuricemia. However, this association is still unclear. The aim of the present study is to explore the association of the consumption of total dairy products and their subtypes with the risk of hyperuricemia in an elderly Mediterranean population with MetS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Baseline cross-sectional analyses were conducted on 6329 men/women (mean age 65 years) with overweight/obesity and MetS from the PREDIMED-Plus cohort. Dairy consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable-adjusted Cox regressions were fitted to analyze the association of quartiles of consumption of total dairy products and their subtypes with the prevalence of hyperuricemia. Participants in the upper quartile of the consumption of total dairy products (multiadjusted prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.75-0.94; P-trend 0.02), low-fat dairy products (PR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.70-0.89; P-trend <0.001), total milk (PR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73-0.90; P-trend<0.001), low-fat milk (PR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72-0.89; P-trend<0.001, respectively), low-fat yogurt (PR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.80-0.98; P-trend 0.051), and cheese (PR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.77-0.96; P-trend 0.003) presented a lower prevalence of hyperuricemia. Whole-fat dairy, fermented dairy, and yogurt consumption were not associated with hyperuricemia. CONCLUSIONS: High consumption of total dairy products, total milk, low-fat dairy products, low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, and cheese is associated with a lower risk of hyperuricemia.

Elevated circulating levels of succinate in human obesity are linked to specific gut microbiota.

Gut microbiota-related metabolites are potential clinical biomarkers for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Circulating succinate, a metabolite produced by both microbiota and the host, is increased in hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. We aimed to analyze systemic levels of succinate in obesity, a major risk factor for CVD, and its relationship with gut microbiome. We explored the association of circulating succinate with specific metagenomic signatures in cross-sectional and prospective cohorts of Caucasian Spanish subjects. Obesity was associated with elevated levels of circulating succinate concomitant with impaired glucose metabolism. This increase was associated with specific changes in gut microbiota related to succinate metabolism: a higher relative abundance of succinate-producing Prevotellaceae (P) and Veillonellaceae (V), and a lower relative abundance of succinate-consuming Odoribacteraceae (O) and Clostridaceae (C) in obese individuals, with the (P + V/O + C) ratio being a main determinant of plasma succinate. Weight loss intervention decreased (P + V/O + C) ratio coincident with the reduction in circulating succinate. In the spontaneous evolution after good dietary advice, alterations in circulating succinate levels were linked to specific metagenomic signatures associated with carbohydrate metabolism and energy production with independence of body weight change. Our data support the importance of microbe-microbe interactions for the metabolite signature of gut microbiome and uncover succinate as a potential microbiota-derived metabolite related to CVD risk.

Characterization of NO-Induced Nitrosative Status in Human Placenta from Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

Dysregulation of NO production is implicated in pregnancy-related diseases, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The role of NO and its placental targets in GDM pregnancies has yet to be determined. S-Nitrosylation is the NO-derived posttranslational protein modification that can modulate biological functions by forming NO-derived complexes with longer half-life, termed S-nitrosothiol (SNO). Our aim was to examine the presence of endogenous S-nitrosylated proteins in cysteine residues in relation to antioxidant defense, apoptosis, and cellular signal transduction in placental tissue from control (n = 8) and GDM (n = 8) pregnancies. S-Nitrosylation was measured using the biotin-switch assay, while the expression and protein activity were assessed by immunoblotting and colorimetric methods, respectively. Results indicated that catalase and peroxiredoxin nitrosylation levels were greater in GDM placentas, and that was accompanied by reduced catalase activity. S-Nitrosylation of ERK1/2 and AKT was increased in GDM placentas, and their activities were inhibited. Activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased, with the latter also showing diminished nitrosylation levels. These findings suggest that S-nitrosylation is a little-known, but critical, mechanism by which NO directly modulates key placental proteins in women with GDM and, as a consequence, maternal and fetal anomalies during pregnancy can occur.

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in children from Mexico.

Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic disease caused by Cryptosporidium spp. In immunocompetent individuals, it usually causes an acute and self-limited diarrhea; in infants, infection with Cryptosporidium spp. can cause malnutrition and growth retardation, and declined cognitive ability. In this study, we described for the first time the distribution of C. parvum and C. hominis subtypes in 12 children in Mexico by sequence characterization of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (GP60) gene of Cryptosporidium. Altogether, 7 subtypes belonging to 4 subtype families of C. hominis (Ia, Ib, Id and Ie) and 1 subtype family of C. parvum (IIa) were detected, including IaA14R3, IaA15R3, IbA10G2, IdA17, IeA11G3T3, IIaA15G2R1 and IIaA16G1R1. The frequency of the subtype families and subtypes in the samples analyzed in this study differed from what was observed in other countries.

Changes in oxidative stress and insulin resistance in morbidly obese patients after bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of morbid obesity has seen an increase in developed countries over recent years. Bariatric surgery is almost the only effective strategy for treating super morbidly obese patients. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of bariatric surgery on the evolution of the main variables related to diabetes and obesity, especially insulin resistance, parameters of oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers in the early stage after surgery. METHODS: The study was undertaken in 17 morbidly obese persons who were scheduled for biliopancreatic diversion of Scopinaro. Measurements were made before surgery and 15, 30, 45, and 90 days after surgery. RESULTS: We found that significant metabolic changes occurred during the first 90 days after bariatric surgery. The most significant decrease in insulin resistance occurred 15 days after the operation. At this point, the lipid profile and inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters had not improved. One month after surgery, insulin resistance had a parallel evolution to weight and the molecules directly associated with hypertrophic adipose tissue. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that there are two mechanisms that contribute to the improvement in insulin resistance after biliopancreatic diversion: on the one hand, a short-term effect related to gastric bypass, and on the other hand, a long-term effect from decreased fat mass and resulting changes in the release of molecules directly associated with hypertrophic adipose tissue.

Inverse relation between FASN expression in human adipose tissue and the insulin resistance level.

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissue is a key regulator of energy balance playing an active role in lipid storage and may be a dynamic buffer to control fatty acid flux. Just like PPARgamma, fatty acid synthesis enzymes such as FASN have been implicated in almost all aspects of human metabolic alterations such as obesity, insulin resistance or dyslipemia. The aim of this work is to investigate how FASN and PPARgamma expression in human adipose tissue is related to carbohydrate metabolism dysfunction and obesity. METHODS: The study included eighty-seven patients which were classified according to their BMI and to their glycaemia levels in order to study FASN and PPARgamma gene expression levels, anthropometric and biochemical variables. RESULTS: The main result of this work is the close relation between FASN expression level and the factors that lead to hyperglycemic state (increased values of glucose levels, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, BMI and triglycerides). The correlation of the enzyme with these parameters is inversely proportional. On the other hand, PPARgamma is not related to carbohydrate metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: We can demonstrate that FASN expression is a good candidate to study the pathophysiology of type II diabetes and obesity in humans.

VEGF gene expression in adult human thymus fat: a correlative study with hypoxic induced factor and cyclooxygenase-2.

UNLABELLED: It is well known that the adult human thymus degenerates into fat tissue; however, it has never been considered as a potential source of angiogenic factors. Recently, we have described that this fat (TAT) produces angiogenic factors and induces human endothelial cell proliferation and migration, indicating its potential angiogenic properties. DESIGN: Adult thymus fat and subcutaneous adipose tissue specimens were obtained from 28 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, making this tissue readily available as a prime source of adipose tissue. We focused our investigation on determining VEGF gene expression and characterizing the different genes, mediators of inflammation and adipogenesis, and which are known to play a relevant role in angiogenesis regulation. RESULTS: We found that VEGF-A was the isoform most expressed in TAT. This expression was accompanied by an upregulation of HIF-1alpha, COX-2 and HO-1 proteins, and by increased HIF-1 DNA binding activity, compared to SAT. Furthermore, we observed that TAT contains a high percentage of mature adipocytes, 0.25% of macrophage cells, 15% of endothelial cells and a very low percentage of thymocyte cells, suggesting the cellular variability of TAT, which could explain the differences in gene expression observed in TAT. Subsequently, we showed that the expression of genes known as adipogenic mediators, including PPARgamma1/gamma2, FABP-4 and adiponectin was similar in both TAT and SAT. Moreover the expression of these latter genes presented a significantly positive correlation with VEGF, suggesting the potential association between VEGF and the generation of adipose tissue in adult thymus. CONCLUSION: Here we suggest that this fat has a potential angiogenic function related to ongoing adipogenesis, which substitutes immune functions within the adult thymus. The expression of VEGF seems to be associated with COX-2, HO-1 and adipogenesis related genes, suggesting the importance that this new fat has acquired in research in relation to adipogenesis and angiogenesis.

PPARgamma mRNA expression is reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after fat overload in patients with metabolic syndrome.

PPARgamma is a transcriptional regulator of metabolism; its activity can be modulated by direct binding of dietary lipids. The most prevalent human PPARgamma gene variant, Ala12, is associated with postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in patients with metabolic syndrome, although the mechanism whereby this polymorphism affects lipid homeostasis remains to be fully determined. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), we studied the effect of the Pro12 and Ala12 polymorphisms on mRNA expression of PPARgamma and nuclear factor kappa B genes before and 3 and 4 h after fat overload. We also studied several biochemical and oxidative stress variables. Most of the indicators of oxidative stress were higher in patients with metabolic syndrome than in healthy subjects before and after fat overload. Patients also differed depending on whether they had the Pro12 or Ala12 variant in PBMC; PPARgamma expression was lower in healthy subjects compared with patients. After fat overload, circulating triglycerides and PPARgamma expression were positively correlated (r = 0.617, P < 0.05), and PPARgamma expression tended to be negatively correlated with 2 important markers of oxidative stress: plasma lipid peroxidation (r = -0.224, P < 0.1) and carbonylated proteins (CPro) (r = -0.340, P < 0.1) concentrations. We also found differences in several indicators of oxidative stress between Pro12 and Ala12 patients, including an increase in plasma CPro before and after fat overload in Ala12 but not Pro12 patients. These data provide evidence that the Ala12 sequence variant is associated with a worse metabolic profile than Pro12. This is related to differences in the expression of PPARgamma and to oxidative imbalance after fat overload.

A rapid ethnographic study of breastfeeding in the North and South of Italy.

BACKGROUND: The past ten years have witnessed a rising trend in the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding in Italy, but breastfeeding rates increase in an unequal way; they are higher in the North of Italy than in the South. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences, expectations and beliefs of a sample of mothers, and to identify differences, if any, between the North and the South of Italy. METHODS: The study was conducted in two regions of Italy, Friuli Venezia Giulia in the Northeast and Basilicata in the South. Two hundred and seventy-nine mothers of infants and children 6 to 23 months of age were interviewed using an 85-item questionnaire including closed and open questions on infant feeding experiences and beliefs, sources of information and support, reasons for intended and actual choices and practices, and some demographic and social variables. Face-to-face interviews were conducted between May 2001 and September 2002. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The distribution of the mothers by age, education, employment and parity did not differ from that of the general population of the two regions. The reported rates of initiation and duration of breastfeeding were also similar: 95% started breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding was 32% at three and 9% at six months, with 64% and 35% of any breastfeeding, respectively. Some differences were reported in the rates of full breastfeeding, reflecting different ages of introduction of non-nutritive fluids. These, as well as nutritive fluids--including infant formula--and complementary foods, were introduced far too early. Advice on infant feeding was generally provided by health professionals and often was not based on up-to-date recommendations. Mothers were generally aware of the advantages of breastfeeding, but at the same time reported problems that they were not able to solve alone or through social and health system support. Most mothers would welcome the support of a peer counsellor. More mothers in Basilicata than in Friuli Venezia Giulia reported difficulties with breastfeeding related to returning to work and were not familiar with their rights on breastfeeding and maternity leave. CONCLUSION: Programmes for the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in these and similar regions of Italy should concentrate on better training of health professionals with regards to lactation management, communication, and counselling skills. The addition of trained peer counsellors could reinforce the work done by the health system and, through community involvement, could help change social prejudice in the mid- and long-term. The differences between regions should be taken into account in formulating these programmes to avoid increasing, and possibly to decrease, the current gaps.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha and -gamma in auricular tissue from heart failure patients.

OBJECTIVE: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), key transcriptional regulators of lipid and energy metabolism in cardiomyocytes, have recently been proposed to modulate cardiovascular pathophysiological responses in experimental models. However, there is little information about the functional activity of PPARs in human heart failure. AIMS: To investigate PPAR-alpha and -gamma expression and activity, and the association with ET-1 production and fibrosis, in cardiac biopsies from patients with end-stage heart failure due to ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) in comparison and from non-failing donor hearts. All samples were obtained during cardiac transplantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Morphological analysis (by Masson trichrome and image analysis) did not detect fibrosis in the left atrium from non-failing donors (NFLA) or from ICM patients (FLA). However, left ventricles from failing hearts (FLV) contained a greater number of fibrotic areas (NFLA: 3.21+/-1.15, FLA: 1.63+/-0.83, FLV: 14.5+/-3.45%; n = 9, P<0.05). By RT-PCR, preproET-1 expression was similar in the non-failing and failing atrium but was significantly higher in the ventricles from failing hearts (NFLA: 1.00+/-0.06, FLA: 1.08+/-0.11, FLV: 1.74+/-0.19; n = 9, P<0.05). PPAR-alpha and PPAP-gamma mRNA (by RT-PCR) and protein (by Western blot) levels were higher in the ventricles from failing hearts compared with the atrium from failing and non-failing hearts. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that PPAR-alpha and PPAP-gamma were not activated in the ventricles (NFLA: 1.00+/-0.11, FLA: 1.89+/-0.24, FLV: 0.95+/-0.07; n = 9, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that PPAR-alpha and PPAP-gamma are selectively activated in the atria from ICM patients and might be functionally important in the maintenance of atrial morphology.

La giardiasis en relación con el grupo sanguíneo A / Giardiasis in relation to blood group A

Los informes contradictorios acerca de la asociación entre el grupo sanguíneo A y giardiasis, motivaron a los autores a investigar este problema en una muestra de 757 niños, de los cuales 385 tenían quistes de giardia en las heces. Por otro lado, se colectó la información que a este respecto existe en la literatura médica y se analizaron los datos empleando un procedimiento estadístico que ha sido sugerido para investigar la relación entre grupos sanguíneos y enfermedad. Los datos recabados y el análisis de la información obtenida en la literatura, permiten estimar que por cada 100 personas del grupo O con G. lamblia existen 143 del grupo A, es decir que el riesgo de enfermar en estos últimos es 43% más alto

Favorece la Giardia lamblia la proliferación intestinal de bacterias? / Does giardia lamblia favor intestinal bacterial proliferation?

Con el propósito de estudiar si la G. lamblia se acompaña en el intestino de una gran población de bacterias productoras de indol, se investigó la concentración de sulfato de indoxil en la orina, antes y después de erradicar este parásito. Los resultados plantean, indirectamente, que la giardiasis se asocia a una proliferación de enterobacterias que sobrepasa en magnitud la que ordinariamente existe en el intestino

Primer caso de linguatulosis ocular en México / First case of ocular linguatulosis in Mexico

Se trata del primer caso de linguatulosis ocular en un niño mexicano, el cual presentó el parásito en cámara anterior del ojo izquierdo. Se comentan aspectos clínicos, manejo quirúrgico y estudio epidemiológico. Se describe el ciclo biológico y se revisa la literatura médica al respecto

Absorcion de proteinas en ninos con giardiasis. / Absorption of proteins in children with giardiasis

Con el objeto de investigar si la Giardia lamblia interfiere en la absorcion intestinal de proteinas, se estudio la respuesta de 11 ninos ante una carga de gelatina.La determinacion de alfa aminonitrogeno serico, antes de dar la proteina y el incremento habido 2 horas despues, fue el criterio usado para medir la capacidad de absorcion. Una vez efectuada la estimacion basa, cada uno de los ninos recibio tinidazol por 3 dias;luego se repitio la carga de gelatina con el fin de estimar los cambios en la absorcion, una vez que habia sido eliminado. Los resultados demuestran que la presencia de la giardia en el intestino restringe significativamente la absorcion de la gelatina. Se comenta la eventual transcendencia de este hallazgo en el crecimiento de los ninos que albergan este parasito

Absorcion de la lactosa en parasitosis del intestino. / Lactose absorption in parasitic intestinal diseases

Con el proposito de conocer la prevalencia de hipolactasa en ninos mexicanos y la posible participacion que los parasitos intestinales pudieran tener en la deficiente absorcion de la lactosa, se llevo a cabo una investigacion en 101 escolares, empleando para ello la prueba del hidrogeno espirado. Como grupo de contraste se estudiaron con el mismo procedimiento un grupo de 12 ninos seleccionados bajo criterios estrictos. Los resultados mostraron una elevada prevalencia de hipolactasa; 69,3% de los escolares eliminaron el hidrogeno a una concentracion mayor de 20 ppm, despues de ofrecerles 250 milimetros de leche integra. En los escolares parasitados se encontraron las cifras mas altas de hidrogeno espirado; una vez erradicadas las parasitosis, se cancelaron las diferencias con respecto a los ninos no parasitados. Tambien hubo divergencias segun que los infantes albergan los parasitos en el intestino delgado o en el colon. Los ninos parasitados en el intestino delgado eliminaron una mayor concentracion de hidrogeno; los hallazgos permiten afirmar que la presencia de parasitos en esta porcion del intestino, interfiere con la absorcion de la lactosa contenida en 250 ml de leche