Early developmental exposure to high fructose intake in rats with NaCl stimulation causes cardiac damage.

PURPOSE: Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. High consumption of fructose is a proposed cause of increased MS, manifested through hypertension, obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. High NaCl also increases the risk of CD. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of fructose and sodium on autonomic dysfunction and its relation with CD in MS. Fructose overload was started at weaning and continued through adulthood. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (21 days) were divided into four groups: Control (C), fructose consumption (10%, F), NaCl consumption (salt 1% for the 10 last days, S), and fructose and NaCl (FS), and monitored for 8 weeks. Metabolic evaluations consisted of Lee index, glycemia, insulin and glucose tolerance tests, triglycerides, and total cholesterol measurements. Cardiovascular parameters measured were arterial pressure (AP) and cardiac function performed by echocardiography. They also measured the influence of renin angiotensin (RAS) and autonomic nervous systems by drug blockage with losartan, atropine, and atenolol. RESULTS: Energy analysis showed no change between groups. Fructose overload induced a MS state, confirmed by insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and dyslipidemia. Fasting glucose was increased in F and FS rat groups compared with C and S groups. AP was higher in F, S, and FS groups in comparison with the C group. The hypotensive response after sympathetic blockade was increased in F, S, and FS versus C. The cardiac vagal tonus was reduced in F and FS animal groups. The intrinsic heart rate was decreased in the FS group (372 ± 9 bpm) compared with the C group (410 ± 13 bpm). The morphometric measurements evaluated through left ventricular diameter during diastole and the left ventricular diameter during systole decreased in the FS group (16 and 26%, respectively). Diastolic function was reduced in F and FS. The depressor response induced by losartan was increased in the F group in comparison with other groups. However, there was a uniform increase in plasma ACE activity in all treated groups compared with the C group. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that early exposure to high fructose intake produced marked alterations in metabolic and cardiovascular function. When stimulated by NaCl, the fructose-fed subjects showed further impairment in cardiac function.

Substituição do feno de tifton pela casca de mamona na dieta de ovinos: componentes não-carcaça / Replacement of tifton hay with castor bean hulls in sheep diet: non carcass components

Avaliou-se o efeito da substituição do feno de capim tifton pela casca de mamona, 0, 33, 66 e 100% na dieta de ovinos, sobre o peso e rendimento dos componentes não constituintes da carcaça e o rendimento de buchada e panelada. Vinte e oito animais não castrados, com sete meses de idade e peso inicial médio de 19,5±2,45kg, foram distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e sete repetições, e abatidos após 70 dias de confinamento. Houve decréscimo linear nos pesos da língua (0,084 a 0,079kg), traqueia+pulmão (0,50 a 0,42kg), coração (0,14 a 0,12kg), timo (0,035 a 0,025kg), rins (0,100 a 0,088kg) e peso total dos órgãos (2,14 a 1,90kg) de acordo com o percentual de substituição. O mesmo comportamento foi verificado para os pesos do esôfago (0,051 a 0,045kg), rúmen-retículo (0,73 a 0,64kg), intestino delgado (0,78 a 0,64kg) e total de vísceras (2,17 a 1,92kg). Para os pesos da cabeça (1,99 a 1,66kg), patas (0,86 a 0,73kg), pele (2,49 a 1,99kg), sangue (1,36 a 1,19kg) e total de subprodutos (7,12 a 5,96kg) verificou-se efeito linear negativo de acordo com a substituição. O mesmo foi observado para os pesos de buchada (4,71 a 4,22kg) e panelada (7,55 a 6,61kg). A casca de mamona não deve substituir o feno de capim tifton na dieta de ovinos por causar decréscimo no peso de órgãos, vísceras e subprodutos e influenciar negativamente os pesos e rendimentos de buchada e panelada.

The effects of replacing tifton hay with 0, 33, 66 and 100% of castor bean hulls in the diet of sheep on the non-carcass components of weight and dressing and on the "buchada" and "panelada" yield were evaluated in this research. Twenty-eight non castrated sheep averaging seven months of age and with initial weight of 19.5±2.45kg were assigned to a randomized block design with four treatments and seven replicates, and were slaughtered after 70 days of confinement. A linear decrease of tongue (0.084 to 0.079kg), trachea + lungs (0.50 to 0.42kg), heart (0.14 to 0.12kg), thymus (0.035 to 0.025kg), kidneys (0.100 to 0.088kg) weights and total weight of organs (2.14 to 1.90kg) was observed. The same behavior was observed for the esophagus (0.051 to 0.045kg), rumen-reticulum (0.73 to 0.64kg), small intestine (0.78 to 0.64kg) and total viscera (2.17 to 1.92kg) weights. There was a linear effect for the head (1.99 to 1.66kg), feet (0.86 to 0.73kg), skin (2.49 to 1.99kg), blood (1.36 to 1.19kg) and total by-products (7.12 to 5.96kg) weights according to the treatments and also for "buchada" (4.71 to 4.22kg) and "panelada" (7.55 to 6.61kg) weights. Castor bean hulls should not replace tifton hay because it decreases the weight of organs, viscera and by-products and adversely affects the "buchada" and "panelada" weight and dressing.

Importance of granular structure in the initial conditions for the elliptic flow.

We show the effects of the granular structure of the initial conditions of a hydrodynamic description of high-energy nucleus-nucleus collisions on some observables, especially on the elliptic-flow parameter v2. Such a structure enhances production of isotropically distributed high-pT particles, making v2 smaller there. Also, it reduces v2 in the forward and backward regions where the global matter density is smaller and, therefore, where such effects become more efficacious.

High sustained efficacy of a prophylactic quadrivalent human papillomavirus types 6/11/16/18 L1 virus-like particle vaccine through 5 years of follow-up.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers, precancerous dysplasia, and genital warts. We report data for the longest efficacy evaluation to date of a prophylactic HPV vaccine. In total, 552 women (16-23 years) were enrolled in a randomised, placebo-controlled study of a quadrivalent HPV 6/11/16/18 L1 virus-like-particle vaccine with vaccination at months 0, 2, and 6. At regular intervals through 3 years, subjects underwent gynaecologic examination, cervicovaginal sampling for HPV DNA, serum anti-HPV testing, and Pap testing, with follow-up biopsy as indicated. A subset of 241 subjects underwent two further years of follow-up. At 5 years post enrollment, the combined incidence of HPV 6/11/16/18-related persistent infection or disease was reduced in vaccine-recipients by 96% (two cases vaccine versus 46 placebo). There were no cases of HPV 6/11/16/18-related precancerous cervical dysplasia or genital warts in vaccine recipients, and six cases in placebo recipients (efficacy = 100%; 95% CI:12-100%). Through 5 years, vaccine-induced anti-HPV geometric mean titres remained at or above those following natural infection. In conclusion, a prophylactic quadrivalent HPV vaccine was effective through 5 years for prevention of persistent infection and disease caused by HPV 6/11/16/18. This duration supports vaccination of adolescents and young adults, which is expected to greatly reduce the burden of cervical and genital cancers, precancerous dysplasia, and genital warts.

Multiple transcripts regulate glucose-triggered mRNA decay of the lactate transporter JEN1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae JEN1 gene encoding the lactate transporter undergoes strong catabolic repression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. JEN1 mRNA decay is greatly accelerated upon the addition of a pulse of glucose, fructose or mannose to induced cell cultures. Mapping of the 5'UTRs and 3'UTRs of JEN1 transcripts revealed multiple transcription start-sites located at position -51, +391 or +972, depending on the cell culture conditions. The presence of the JEN1(+391) transcript correlated with rapid glucose-triggered mRNA degradation of the JEN1(-51) transcript, whereas when the small transcript started at position +972, the JEN1(-51) mRNA turnover rate was unaffected. Overexpressed JEN1(+391) transcript accelerated JEN1(-51) mRNA decay in all conditions tested but was not translated. We propose that the JEN1(+391) transcript may have a "sensor-like" function, regulating glucose-triggered degradation of JEN1(-51) protein-coding mRNA.

Expression of the lactate permease gene JEN1 from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lactate permease induction by lactic acid took place after transcription of JEN1. JEN1 transcripts were undetectable 10 min after the addition of a pulse of glucose to YP-lactic acid exponentially growing cells, while the permease activity ceased after 50 min. A value of 15.1 min was found for the half-life of JEN1 mRNA, showing the involvement of a glucose-induced mechanism of mRNA degradation. The rapid decline of the carrier activity upon glucose addition points to the existence of an irreversible carbon catabolite inactivation process. Isogenic strains, deleted in genes encoding enzymes involved in lactic acid metabolism, did not express JEN1, indicating an association of the intracellular metabolism of the acid to the transcription of the permease gene. The carbon sources capable of inducing JEN1 transcription were dependent on the strain. Distinct posttranslation mechanisms appeared to be involved in the lactate carrier activity.

A comparison of cycle control and effect on well-being of monophasic gestodene-, triphasic gestodene- and monophasic desogestrel-containing oral contraceptives. Gestodene Study Group.

This was an open-label multicenter study to compare the cycle control and effect on well-being of two oral contraceptives containing gestodene and one containing desogestrel. A total of 2419 healthy women < or = 41 years of age were randomized to receive oral contraceptives containing monophasic gestodene (Minulet; n = 806, mean age 24.5 years), triphasic gestodene (Tri-Minulet; n = 808, mean age 24.6 years) or monophasic desogestrel (Mercilon; n = 805, mean age 24.6 years). Subjects were to participate in the study for up to 13 treatment cycles. A modified Moos Menstrual Distress Questionnaire was used to evaluate menstrual symptoms and to assess overall well-being. A total of 698 women were withdrawn from the study, 154 due to adverse events. Cycle control with gestodene was superior to that with desogestrel at almost all time points, particularly for breakthrough bleeding and/or spotting, which occurred significantly less frequently with gestodene than with desogestrel at cycles 1-7 and 9-11 (p < 0.05). Generally, the proportion of subjects with breakthrough bleeding and/or spotting was almost twice as great with desogestrel as with gestodene. The duration of bleeding was not consistently different between the gestodene and desogestrel groups; however, the intensity of bleeding was greater with gestodene at all time points (p < 0.05). The latent period before withdrawal bleeding was significantly longer for monophasic gestodene at cycles 1-5 and 8-10 (p < 0.05). Treatment significantly improved overall well-being at cycles 6 and 9 with triphasic gestodene and at cycle 13 with desogestrel; however, no statistically significant differences among treatment groups in overall well-being scores or individual factors of well-being could be identified. All three treatments were well tolerated. The most common drug-related adverse events were headache (14.2%), breast pain (6.2%), nausea (4.1%), metrorrhagia (3.9%) and abdominal pain (3.5%). The incidence of adverse events in all treatment groups was similar, with the exception of metrorrhagia, which occurred in more patients in the desogestrel group than in the gestodene treatment groups (p < 0.05).

Survival and functional results of Pearson's near-total laryngectomy for larynx and pyriform sinus carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment for most T3 and T4 transglottic and pyriform sinus carcinomas is total laryngectomy or total laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy. Voice rehabilitation usually requires the use of a tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP). Pearson's near-total laryngectomy (NTL) is an option for voice preservation in selected cases with no invasion of the interarythenoid space and limited invasion of the subglottis. The purpose of this study is to report the functional and survival results of 42 consecutive patients who underwent NTL from 1988 to 1995. Patients and Methods The patients were 40 men and two women, with a median age of 58 years. All patients had squamous cell carcinoma. There were 37 larynx and five pyriform sinus tumors. T3 stage tumor represented 85.7% of the cases. RESULTS: There were complications in 13 patients (28.9%). Vocal quality was considered good in 83.3% of the cases. To date, eight patients presented tumor recurrences: two local, two in the neck, and four distant. The 5-year actuarial overall survival rates were of 81.7% in larynx carcinoma and 66.6% in pyriform sinus carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: In selected transglottic and pyriform sinus carcinomas, NTL can be carried out with acceptable morbidity and a high potential of voice preservation and tumor control.

The lactate-proton symport of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is encoded by JEN1.

A mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae deficient in the lactate-proton symport was isolated. Transformation of the mutant with a yeast genomic library allowed the isolation of the gene JEN1 that restored lactate transport. Disruption of JEN1 abolished uptake of lactate. The results indicate that, under the experimental conditions tested, no other monocarboxylate permease is able to efficiently transport lactate in S. cerevisiae.

Efficacy and acceptability of two monophasic oral contraceptives containing ethinylestradiol and either desogestrel or gestodene.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the contraceptive efficacy, cycle control and acceptability of two monophasic oral contraceptives containing either 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol plus 150 micrograms desogestrel or 30 micrograms ethinylestradiol plus 75 micrograms gestodene. METHODS: In a randomized, open-label, six-cycle, group-comparative, multicenter study performed in Brazil, pregnancies, cycle-control parameters, incidence of side-effects and the presence and severity of acne vulgaris were assessed, and blood pressure and body weight were measured at pretreatment and after one, three and six cycles of oral contraceptive use. RESULTS: Of the 595 women enrolled, 274 (86.7%) in the desogestrel/ethinylestradiol group and 227 (81.4%) in the gestodene/ethinylestradiol group completed the six cycles, providing data for 1753 and 1487 treatment cycles, respectively. Two pregnancies occurred, one of which (in the desogestrel/ethinylestradiol group) was attributed to user failure, whilst the other (in the gestodene/ethinylestradiol group) was thought to result from method failure. Cycle control was observed to be excellent; the incidences of irregular bleeding and minor side-effects were low in both groups and decreased after an initial increase in the first cycle. Pre-existing acne improved in both groups, whereas blood pressure and body weight remained essentially unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Both desogestrel/ethinylestradiol and gestodene/ethinylestradiol provide effective oral contraception with comparable cycle control and acceptability.

A multicenter clinical evaluation of a new monophasic combination: Minulet (gestodene and ethinyl estradiol).

The safety and efficacy of a low-dose monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) containing a new progestogen, gestodene (GTD), combined with ethinyl estradiol (EE) is being investigated in two ongoing multicenter trails. In this interim analysis, the formulation was found to be effective and well tolerated. Subject compliance was excellent; no pills were missed in 91.2% of the cycles. The number of women who withdrew from the study was low (15%), indicating good subject acceptance. GTD + EE provided optimal cycle control. Of the total number of OC cycles analyzed, spotting occurred in 8.1%, breakthrough bleeding in 1.8%, and both spotting and breakthrough bleeding in 3.3%. The incidence of spotting decreased fairly steadily during OC administration. Amenorrhea occurred in 0.5% of the cycles. There were no unexpected or serious side effects. The incidence of side effects was low and declined with increased duration of OC use. There were no clinically significant changes in weight or blood pressure. Virtually all of the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings were in the normal range. The results of this interim analysis indicate that the GTD + EE formulation is a safe and reliable contraceptive.

Laparoscopia - casuistica de 3 anos. / Laparoscopy - casuistics of 3 years

Este trabalho e estudo retrospectivo de 178 laparoscopias efetuadas no Departamento de Tocoginecologia do Hospital de Clinicas da Universidade Federal do Parana, entre 1976 e 1980. Sao analisados as indicacoes e os respectivos achados laparoscopicos. Esterilidade e dor pelvica foram as indicacoes mais importantes. O fator tuboperitoneal e a endometriose constituiram os achados mais frequentes. As outras indicacoes foram amenorreia, falencia ovariana precoce e policistose ovariana. Dados referentes a eficacia do metodo para cada indicacao sugerem ser a laparoscopia metodo propedeutico de grande valia para o ginecologista