Placental levels of metals and associated factors in urban and sub-urban areas of Seville (Spain).

Environmental exposure to metals among women, revealed their adverse effects on pregnancy. The fetus is exposed to these toxic elements only via the placenta which are able to accumulate there or cross it, compromising the protective functions of this organ. Numerous studies have shown associations between the prenatal exposition to some metals and an impact on cognitive, motor and intellectual development of the child. Sixty two placental samples were taken at delivery to determine the mineral content (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn) by ICP-OES. Among these metals, essential ones (B, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Zn) can have health beneficial effects at low levels however, in high concentration are potentially toxic. On the other hand, elements such as Al, Cd, Pb, are classified as toxic metals, no matter what its concentration is. The aim of this study is to find the potential relationships between these metals levels, newborn's parameters, pregnancy details and the epidemiologic information obtained using a questionnaire data from the participant pregnant women from Seville (Spain). The main maternal determinant of detectable placenta Cd levels was smoking during pregnancy. Other maternal factors that may affect placenta metal levels were gestational age (Al, B, Ba, and Pb) or dietary supplement (Fe). It has to be stressed that our results have to be interpreted with caution, because of the small study group and the low exposure levels, along with the lack of information on potential sources of exposure to these metals. The use of placenta samples obtained at delivery can be considered strength of this study since the concentration of some metals in placenta can indicate the extent of maternal exposure during gestation.

Effectiveness of whole grain consumption in the prevention of colorectal cancer: meta-analysis of cohort studies.

The present work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of whole grain consumption in preventing colorectal cancer. A systematic review with meta-analysis of 11 cohort studies was carried out. The age group of the population studied (1,719,590 participants) was between 25 and 76 years of age. The review evaluated the relative risks with the Cox proportional hazard model. The period of study varied from 6 to 16 years, where 7,745 persons developed colorectal cancer during the follow-up period. In the multivariate analysis, the highest quintile relative risk was 0.94 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.03), whereas that for the lowest quintile was 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.04). The location of tumors was also evaluated, with tumors in the colon demonstrating a relative risk of 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.02) and tumors in the recto a relative risk equal to 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.79-1.00). In this multivariate analysis, consumption of whole grains was inversely associated with the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Glycosyldiacylglycerolipids from the lichen Dictyonema glabratum.

Three glycolipids (1-3) were isolated from the basidiolichen Dictyonema glabratum. Their carbohydrate and lipid components were structurally characterized using 1D 1H and 13C and 2D NMR spectroscopy, complemented by mass spectrometry, as were the carbohydrate moieties formed on saponification. These were O-alpha-D-Galp-(1''-->6')-O-beta-D-Galp-(1'<-->1)-2, 3-diacyl-D-glycerol (2) and two others not previously found in lichens, O-beta-D-Galp-(1'<-->1)-2,3-diacyl-D-glycerol (1) and O-alpha-D-Galp-(1'''-->6'')-O-alpha-D-Galp-(1' '-->6')-O-beta-D-Galp-(1'<-->1)-2,3-diacyl-D-glycerol (3). Each was saponified to give the free carbohydrates and its fatty acid methyl esters. The most abundant fatty acid esters in 1-3 was palmitic C16:0, but there was a wide variation of ester composition. Others present were C8:0 and C14:0 in 1, C14:0, C15:0, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1 (oleic), C18:2 (linoleic), C22:0, and C24:0 in 2, and C8:0, C14:0, C18:0, C18:1 (oleic), C18:2 (linoleic), and C18:3 (linolenic) in 3. As in ascolichens, the glycolipids appear to arise from the phycobiont.

The occurrence of glycolipids in the lichen Ramalina celastri.

We report for the first time the detection of glycolipids in a lichen. Three glycolipids were extracted from Ramalina celastri and their carbohydrates were determined. The main component was O-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->6)-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->1)-D- glyceritol, esterified with long-chain fatty acids, some of which were unsaturated.

[Abnormal hemoglobins and various genetic aspects of mestization of the population of the central regions of Cuba]. / Anomal'nye gemoglobiny i nekotorye geneticheskie aspekty metisatsii naseleniia tsentral'nogo raiona Kuby.

The distribution of the abnormal haemoglobins was estimated in 3763 blood samples of subjects from central part of Cuba. A high incidence of HbS carriers is shown. Some considerations on the presence of the S haemoglobin and gene flow intensity in the europeoid and negro groups in the central part of Cuba are represented.

Influencia do intervalo coito-exame no resultado do teste pos-coito. / Influencia do interval coitus-examination in the result of the postcoitus test

Comparamos os resultados obtidos em testes pos-coito (TPC) realizados em 21 clientes, variando-se o intervalo coito-colheita. No primeiro grupo, o tempo foi de duas a quatro horas, sendo aumentado para oito a 12 horas no segundo grupo. Os testes foram realizados em dois ciclos sucessivos.Podemos observar melhores resultados (testes "bom" e "excelente") com o intervalo menor (47,3%). Quando o tempo coito-colheita aumentou, os resultados pioraram (19,0%). Apesar disso, houve uma melhora de 23,8% nos resultados iniciais, quando examinados em conjunto com os do segundo grupo.Apesar dos inumeros parametros capazes de influir nos resultados do TPC seria logico variar-se o intervalo quando maus resultados indicarem a repeticao do exame