Enzymatic activities in brains of diabetic rats treated with vanadyl sulphate and sodium tungstate.

The hypothesis of the present study was that diabetes mellitus might affect brain metabolism. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, treated with vanadyl sulphate (V) and sodium tungstate (T) were employed to observe the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and creatine kinase (CK) activities in brain homogenates. Significant increases in AST, ALT and CK activities were found in diabetic brain homogenates against controls, suggesting increments of transamination in brain and/or increases in cell membrane permeability to these enzymes. The increase in brain CK possibly expresses alterations in energy production. The decrease in CK activity caused by V and T treatment in diabetic rats suggests that both agents tend to normalize energy consumption. It is also possible that V and T-induced hypoglycemic effects cause metabolic alterations in brain.

Violencia sexual: un nuevo enfoque institucional / Sexual violence: a new institutional approach

Introducción: la violencia por motivos de género es una cuestión social que cobra un enorme precio en materia de salud mental y física. Es posible que la mitad de todas las mujeres estén sujetas en algún momento de su vida actos de violencia por motivos de género. Cada año, dos millones de niñas y mujeres corren riesgo de mutilación genital. La violencia puede ser evidente, como en el caso de los castigos físicos o las agresiones sexuales, o encubierta, como en el abandono o en maltrato emocional. Objetivo: Contribuir a la concientización del cuerpo profesional, a fin de hacerlo perceptivo a las necesidades de las víctimas de violaciones, pudiendo así lograr el desarrollo de un programa asistencial integral de las mismas. Material y método: Se realizó una revisión de los conceptos de definición y diagnósticos diferenciales de violación y abuso sexual. Se realizó el estudio comparativo entre distintos Códigos Penales (Españo, Argentino y su modificatoria del año 1999) de los principales artículos que reglamentan este tema. Se selecionaron las principales normativas vigentes que reglamentan los derechos humanos, la eliminación de las formas de discriminación de la mujer y los principios fundamentales de justicia para las víctimas de delitos. Resultados: Se conceptualizaron premisas profesionales, éticas y humanas que creemos fundamentales en el abordaje de esta problemática. Se plantea como necesidad una definición más abarcativa de violación de nuestro Código Penal, que permita instaurar una forma inequívoca la fellatio in ore como delito de violación. Se reseñan los principales indicadores específicos y de sospecha, así como los estudios infectológicos y la profilaxis a instaurar en caso de violación y abuso sexual. Conclusiones: No actuar para asegurar los derechos de la mujer es ponerse del lado del abuso y la violencia. Al ser indiferentes, resultaremos destructivos

Violencia sexual: un nuevo enfoque institucional / Sexual violence: a new institutional approach

Introducción: la violencia por motivos de género es una cuestión social que cobra un enorme precio en materia de salud mental y física. Es posible que la mitad de todas las mujeres estén sujetas en algún momento de su vida actos de violencia por motivos de género. Cada año, dos millones de niñas y mujeres corren riesgo de mutilación genital. La violencia puede ser evidente, como en el caso de los castigos físicos o las agresiones sexuales, o encubierta, como en el abandono o en maltrato emocional. Objetivo: Contribuir a la concientización del cuerpo profesional, a fin de hacerlo perceptivo a las necesidades de las víctimas de violaciones, pudiendo así lograr el desarrollo de un programa asistencial integral de las mismas. Material y método: Se realizó una revisión de los conceptos de definición y diagnósticos diferenciales de violación y abuso sexual. Se realizó el estudio comparativo entre distintos Códigos Penales (Españo, Argentino y su modificatoria del año 1999) de los principales artículos que reglamentan este tema. Se selecionaron las principales normativas vigentes que reglamentan los derechos humanos, la eliminación de las formas de discriminación de la mujer y los principios fundamentales de justicia para las víctimas de delitos. Resultados: Se conceptualizaron premisas profesionales, éticas y humanas que creemos fundamentales en el abordaje de esta problemática. Se plantea como necesidad una definición más abarcativa de violación de nuestro Código Penal, que permita instaurar una forma inequívoca la fellatio in ore como delito de violación. Se reseñan los principales indicadores específicos y de sospecha, así como los estudios infectológicos y la profilaxis a instaurar en caso de violación y abuso sexual. Conclusiones: No actuar para asegurar los derechos de la mujer es ponerse del lado del abuso y la violencia. Al ser indiferentes, resultaremos destructivos (AU)

Lipid changes in hepatic microsomes and its relationship to P-nitrophenol glucuronidation in an experimental model of portal hypertension.

The liver is responsible for the most important metabolic pathway of non polar compounds. The aim of the present work was to study the p-nitrophenol glucuronidation and its relationship with lipidic composition of microsomal membrane in a model of hepatic portal hypertension and hepatocellular damage induced by monocrotaline. A global increment in liver microsomal phospholipids as well as changes in the phospholipid pattern (phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingomyelin increased up to 156 +/- 13 and 195 +/- 14% respectively) were detected in monocrotaline intoxicated rats when it were compared to control rats. The microsomal cholesterol content showed a decrease in monocrotaline intoxicated rats. (4.1 +/- 0.7 against 6.6 +/- 1.5 micrograms/mg of microsomal protein, in control rats). When p-nitrophenol activity was measured, Km from monocrotaline intoxicated rats was 0.137 mM, and Vmax was 2.9 nmol of p-nitrophenol/mg microsomal protein since in control group Km was 0.322 mM, and Vmax was 4.5 nmol of p-nitrophenol/mg microsomal protein. It is concluded that monocrotaline intoxicated rats showed a different behavior in the kinetics of p-nitrophenol UDP-glucuronyltransferase, as well as a different microsomal lipidic profile, when compared to control group.

Cholestasis as a liver protective factor in paracetamol acute overdose.

1. The effect of paracetamol overdoses on its disposition was investigated in cholestatic rats. 2. Paracetamol plasma concentration and hepatic accumulation decrease about 70-80% in cholestatic rats. 3. Cholestatic rats intoxicated with paracetamol showed less hepatic damage as concluded from biochemical and histological findings. These data are correlated with liver and plasmatic paracetamol. 4. These results indicate a decrease in paracetamol toxicity related to stagnant bile.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in cats in the western part of Great Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1993.

The serological prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was determined, using indirect haemagglutination assay, in the sera of 169 cats. Classification by age, sex, alimentary, hunting and roaming habits was made in conjunction with the number of cats living in each house. An important prevalence was detected (19.5%) from 1 year of age and statistical significance was found in those animals that had predatory habits or lived in groups.

[Development of biochemical and histopathological parameters in paracetamol overdose in experimental cholestasis]. / Evolución de parámetros bioquímicos e histopatológicos en la sobredosis con paracetamol durante la colestasis experimental.

The aim of the present paper is to determine the effect of Paracetamol (P) acute intoxication in cholestatic rats. Four groups of animals were considered: controls, controls intoxicated with P, rats intoxicated with P and cholestatic rats. Hepatic biochemical tests and liver histology were performed in every group. It is concluded that cholestatic rats intoxicated with P showed less Liver damage than in control groups.

Evolución de parámetros bioquímicos e histopatológicos en la sobredosis con paracetamol durante la colestasis experimental. / [Development of biochemical and histopathological parameters in paracetamol overdose in experimental cholestasis]

The aim of the present paper is to determine the effect of Paracetamol (P) acute intoxication in cholestatic rats. Four groups of animals were considered: controls, controls intoxicated with P, rats intoxicated with P and cholestatic rats. Hepatic biochemical tests and liver histology were performed in every group. It is concluded that cholestatic rats intoxicated with P showed less Liver damage than in control groups.

Changes in liver drug glucuronidation during cholestasis are non predictable.

Liver microsomal glucuronidation of acetaminophen, chloramphenicol, salicylic acid, lorazepam, p-nitrophenol and morphine were measured in 8 days bile duct ligated rats. Compared to normals, cholestatic rats showed a decrease of 31% for p-nitrophenol glucuronidation; salicylic acid glucuronidation increased 281%; acetaminophen glucuronidation increased 38% while morphine, chloramphenicol and lorazepam values were similar to controls. We concluded that cholestasis produces non predictable changes on liver drug glucuronidation pathways.

[Increase of acetaminophen conjugation ability in experimental cholestasis]. / Aumento de la capacidad de conjugación del acetaminofene en colestasis experimental.

Acetaminophen glucuronidation ability and its relationship to hepatic microsomal phospholipid changes were studied during experimental extrahepatic cholestasis. This study included two groups of Wistar rats: 1) normal rats and 2) cholestatic rats. UDP-Glucuronyltransferase activity (UDP-GT) towards acetaminophen resulted increased in 38% (p < 0.05) in the cholestatic group when compared to normal rats. We also found important changes in hepatocyte microsomal phospholipid profile. When phosphatidylcholine fatty acid composition was analysed, all of them resulted diminished except for an increment on oleic acid content (36%). This fatty acid increase in the main membrane phospholipid had a parallel behaviour with acetaminophen glucuronidation activity. This fact could support an activation role for oleic acid over this enzymic system.

p-Nitrophenol glucuronidation in bile duct ligated rats.

Liver microsomal glucuronidation of p-nitrophenol was measured in normal, 2 and 8 day bile duct ligated rats. At low aglycone concentration (0.24-0.8 mM) a Michaelis-Menten kinetic was registered in the three groups of animals but cholestatic rats showed a decrease of activity related to the time that cholestasis was maintained. At higher substrate concentration (1.2-2.0 mM), a very different behavior between the three groups was observed: normal rats showed a substrate inhibition phenomena; 2 day rats maintained plateau values and a remarkable activation effect of the activity was seen in the 8 day group. We concluded that cholestasis produced pronounced changes in p-nitrophenol glucuronidation pathway.

Aumento de la capacidad de conjugación del acetaminofene en colestasis experimental / [Increase of acetaminophen conjugation ability in experimental cholestasis]

Acetaminophen glucuronidation ability and its relationship to hepatic microsomal phospholipid changes were studied during experimental extrahepatic cholestasis. This study included two groups of Wistar rats: 1) normal rats and 2) cholestatic rats. UDP-Glucuronyltransferase activity (UDP-GT) towards acetaminophen resulted increased in 38

(p < 0.05) in the cholestatic group when compared to normal rats. We also found important changes in hepatocyte microsomal phospholipid profile. When phosphatidylcholine fatty acid composition was analysed, all of them resulted diminished except for an increment on oleic acid content (36

). This fatty acid increase in the main membrane phospholipid had a parallel behaviour with acetaminophen glucuronidation activity. This fact could support an activation role for oleic acid over this enzymic system.

Aumento de la capacidad de conjugación del acetaminofene en colestasis experimental. / [Increase of acetaminophen conjugation ability in experimental cholestasis]

Acetaminophen glucuronidation ability and its relationship to hepatic microsomal phospholipid changes were studied during experimental extrahepatic cholestasis. This study included two groups of Wistar rats: 1) normal rats and 2) cholestatic rats. UDP-Glucuronyltransferase activity (UDP-GT) towards acetaminophen resulted increased in 38

(p < 0.05) in the cholestatic group when compared to normal rats. We also found important changes in hepatocyte microsomal phospholipid profile. When phosphatidylcholine fatty acid composition was analysed, all of them resulted diminished except for an increment on oleic acid content (36

). This fatty acid increase in the main membrane phospholipid had a parallel behaviour with acetaminophen glucuronidation activity. This fact could support an activation role for oleic acid over this enzymic system.

Changes in microsomal phospholipid fatty acids composition in cholestatic rats.

In the rat, the effect of the bile duct ligation on liver microsomal phospholipid fatty acid composition and on phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol pattern were studied. After two days of cholestasis, microsomal phospholipid fatty acids showed a decrease in linoleic, stearic and arachidonic acids and an increase in oleic and docosahexaenoic ones, as compared to controls. Phosphatidylcholine showed an increment in oleic and palmitic acid content and a concomitant decrease in arachidonic acid. Phosphatidylserine showed a progressive increase while phosphatidylinositol showed a progressive decrease in all fatty acids. Eight-days post-cholestatic rats showed a marked increase in oleic acid, whereas linoleic, arachidonic, stearic and palmitic acids concentration decreased. Phosphatidylcholine showed a global decrease in its fatty acid content, except for oleic which is increased. Phosphatidylserine showed an increase over the two-days cholestasis fatty acids values. Phosphatidylinositol decreased in most fatty acids except in docosahexaenoic acid that recovered normal values. It was concluded that cholestasis produced significative changes in the fatty acid composition of the major phospholipids constituents of the microsomal membranes.

[Fluidity of hepatic microsomal membrane and its relation with aging]. / Fluidificación de la membrana microsomal hepática y su relación con el envejecimiento.

The effect of aging on hepatic microsomal membrane phospholipid composition was studied composition was studied in both young (2 months) and mature (6 months) Wistar rats. When total microsomal phospholipid content was analysed the aged group showed a significant increment (73%). Microsomal phospholipid pattern also showed a different behavior between both groups, with a significative increase in phosphatidylcholine (62%), phosphatidylserine (124%), phosphatidylinositol (31%) and sphingomyelin (10%) and appearance of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol in the six-month group. A higher microsomal membrane fluidity in the aged animals was revealed by the increase in PC/EM index (47%). This increment jin fluidity during aging process may reflect an adaptative response resulting in changes on the enzyme activities responsible for drug and carcinogen metabolism.