Plant compounds for obesity treatment through neuroendocrine regulation of hunger: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Food intake behavior is influenced by both physiological and psychological complex processes, such as appetite, satiety, and hunger. The neuroendocrine regulation of food intake integrates short- and long-term acting signals that modulate the moment of intake and energy storage/expenditure, respectively. These signals are classified as orexigenic, those that activate anabolic pathways and the desire of eating, and anorexigenic, those that activate the catabolic pathways and a sensation of satiety. Appetite control by natural vegetal compounds is an intense area of research and new pharmacological interventions have been emerging based on an understanding of appetite regulation pathways. Several validated psychometric tools are used to assess the efficacy of these plant ingredients. However, these data are not conclusive if they are not complemented with physiological parameters, such as anthropometric evaluations (body weight and composition) and the analysis of hormones related to adipose tissue and appetite in blood. PURPOSE: The purpose of this manuscript is the critical analysis of the plant compounds studied to date in the literature with potential for the neuroendocrine regulation of hunger in order to determine if the use of phytochemicals for the treatment of obesity constitutes an effective and/or promising therapeutic tool. METHODS: Relevant information on neuroendocrine regulation of hunger and satiety for the treatment of obesity by plant compounds up to 2022 in English and/or Spanish were derived from online databases using the PubMed search engine and Google Scholar with relevant keywords and operators. RESULTS: Accordingly, the comparison performed in this review between previous studies showed a high degree of experimental heterogeneity. Among the studies reviewed here, only a few of them establish comprehensively a potential correlation between the effect of the ingredient on hunger or satiety, body changes and a physiological response. CONCLUSIONS: More systematic clinical studies are required in future research. The first approach should be to decode the pattern of circulating hormones regulating hunger, satiety, and appetite in overweight/obese subjects. Thereafter, studies should correlate brain connectivity at the level of the hypothalamus, gut and adipose tissue with the hormone patterns modulating appetite and satiety. Extracts whose mode of action have been well characterized and that are safe, can be used clinically to perform a moderate, but continuous, caloric restriction in overweight patients to lose weight excess into a controlled protocol.

Dietary oleuropein and its acyl derivative ameliorate inflammatory response in peritoneal macrophages from pristane-induced SLE mice via canonical and noncanonical NLRP3 inflammasomes pathway.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease without an effective and safe treatment. Besides, macrophages are the major components of the innate immune system and play a critical role in the inflammation process in SLE. Secoiridoids from olive tree are phenolic compounds which have shown important pharmacological effects. Particularly, oleuropein (OL) has shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties suggesting a potential application in a large number of inflammatory and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated diseases. In addition, different studies have shown the importance of acyl derivatives of natural phenols due to their better hydrophilic/lipophilic balance.

Dietary oleuropein and its new acyl-derivate attenuate murine lupus nephritis through HO-1/Nrf2 activation and suppressing JAK/STAT, NF-κB, MAPK and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathways.

Systemic lupus erythemathosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease which can affect multiple organ systems, without an effective and safe treatment. Olive leaf extracts are of special interest for their therapeutic effects. Oleuropein (OL) is the most abundant constituents of olive leaf extract and possesses many beneficial properties. In this study, we evaluated the effects of dietary OL and its new derivate, peracetylated oleuropein (Per-OL), in a pristane-induced SLE model. Mice received an injection of pristane or saline solution and were fed with experimental diets: enriched with OL and Per-OL. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines and markers were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1, heme oxygenase (HO-1), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and inflammasome nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeats-containing family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) pathways activation were determined in kidneys by Western blot. OL and Per-OL significantly reduced renal damage and decreased serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 and prostaglandine E2 kidneys levels. Our findings indicate that Nrf2 and HO-1 antioxidant protein expressions were up-regulated in mice fed with OL and Per-OL diets, whereas the activation of JAK/STAT, MAPK, NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways was significantly ameliorated. These results suggest that OL and Per-OL supplementation might provide a new alternative approach as a preventive/palliative treatment of nephritis in SLE management.

Effectiveness of craniosacral therapy in the treatment of infantile colic. A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of Craniosacral Therapy (CST) for the treatment of infantile colic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 58 infants, aged 0-84 days, diagnosed with infantile colic. The babies received a 30-40 minute CST session once a week (experimental group) or no treatment (control group). Babies in the CST group received either 1, 2 or 3 CST sessions over a 14-day period. Data were collected at 4 different times over the 24-day period, day 0 (baseline), day 7, day 14 and day 24. Crying (primary outcome) and sleep (secondary outcome) were evaluated using a crying and sleep diary, and colic severity was measured using the Infant Colic Severity Questionnaire (secondary outcome). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between groups (CST and control) in crying hours (F = 188.47; p < 0.0005; η2 = 0.78), sleep hours (F = 61.20; p < 0.0005, η2 = 0.54) and colic severity (F = 143.74; p < 0.0005, η2 = 0.73) across all the time points. In comparison with the control group, CST babies reported significant and clinically relevant effects in crying hours on day 7 (-2.47 h (95%CI, -2.95 to -1.99); p < 0.0005; d = 1.73), on day 14 (-3.29 h (95%CI, -3.7 to -2.8); p < 0.0005; d = 2.87) and on day 24 (-3.20 h (95%CI, -3.7 to -2.6); p < 0.0005; d = 2.54); in sleep hours on day 7 (-2.47 h (95%CI, -2.95 to -1.99); p < 0.0005; d = 1.73) on day 14 (-3.29 h (95%CI, -3.7 to -2.8); p < 0.0005; d = 2.87) and on day 24 (-3.20 h (95%CI, -3.7 to -2.6); p < 0.0005; d = 2.54). CONCLUSIONS: Craniosacral therapy appears to be effective and safe for infantile colic by reducing the number of crying hours, the colic severity and increasing the total hours of sleep.

Contralateral axillary sentinel lymph node drainage in breast cancer: Controversies and management according to the literature. A case report. / Drenaje del ganglio centinela a axila contralateral en cáncer de mama: controversias y manejo según la literatura. A propósito de un caso.

Lymphoscintigraphy in breast cancer usually shows lymphatic drainage to the ipsilateral axilla. Drainage to extraaxillary or contralateral axillary regions is rare and there is still controversy about its management. Due to the significant clinical impact of an accurate staging, a literature research is made based on a case of a patient with recurrence of left breast cancer with contralateral axillary sentinel lymph node detection, without evidence of lymphatic drainage to other locations.

Insatisfacción corporal, conductas de riesgo para trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en universitarios / Body dissatisfaction, risk behaviors eating disorders in university students

Resumen: La insatisfacción corporal supone la presencia de juicios valorativos sobre el cuerpo que usualmente no coinciden con las características reales del individuo. Uno de los principales métodos para el control del peso y de la figura corporal suele ser la realización de conductas alimentarias de riesgo, una amplia variedad de comportamientos negativos y perjudiciales para el individuo. Ambos constituyen factores clave en el origen y desarrollo de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (TCA). El objetivo del estudio es analizar las diferencias en una serie de variables psicológicas vinculadas con los TCA respecto a la satisfacción o insatisfacción corporal y las conductas de riesgo adoptadas en una muestra de adultos universitarios. Mediante la aplicación del Inventario de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria (EDI-3) de Garner, los resultados indican un mayor riesgo de TCA (obsesión por la delgadez, bulimia, insatisfacción corporal) de los sujetos con insatisfacción corporal, y mayores puntuaciones en baja autoestima, alienación personal, inseguridad interpersonal, déficits introceptivos, desajuste emocional, ascetismo y miedo a la madurez. Respecto a las conductas de riesgo, los individuos que presentan mayor número de conductas de riesgo muestran igualmente mayor riesgo de TCA, baja autoestima, déficits introceptivos, desajuste emocional, perfeccionismo y ascetismo.

Abstract: Body dissatisfaction implies appreciatory body judgments that are different from real characteristics of individuals' body. One of the most important method to control weight and body shape is to be involved in eating risk behaviours, which includes a great amount of negative and damaging behaviours for the individual. Both factors (body dissatisfaction and eating risk behaviours) constitute key elements in the beginning and development of Eating Disorders (ED). The aim of the present study was to analyse differences in some psychological variables attending to body dissatisfaction and eating risk behaviours informed by a sample of university adults. Using Garner's Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3) results point out a higher risk of ED (drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction and bulimia) in those individuals with body dissatisfaction, and also higher scores of low self-esteem, personal alienation, interpersonal insecurity, interoceptive deficits, emotional dysregulation, asceticism and maturity fears. Attending to eating risk behaviours, individuals who informed more risk behaviours showed more risk of ED, low self-esteem, interoceptive deficits, emotional dysregulation, perfectionism and asceticism.

Breslow thickness and (18)F-FDG PET-CT result in initial staging of cutaneous melanoma: Can a cut-off point be established?

AIM: To establish a Breslow Thickness (BT) cut-off point for indication of PET-CT of cutaneous melanoma in early stages and evaluate its prognostic value. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 347 PET-CT studies with diagnosis of melanoma, of which 108 were performed for initial staging. Thirty-one patients were excluded, and a final sample of 77 patients remained. A ROC curve analysis was performed to establish an optimal cut-off point. A survival analysis was performed, considering death assignable to melanoma as the main event, for the evaluation of its prognostic value. RESULTS: Forty-seven (61.04%) of all 77 patients selected were men, and 11 (14.29%) had a positive PET-CT result. Mean age was 65.17±15.00 years. The median BT in patients with a negative PET-CT result was 2.75 mm (IQR 1.83-4.50) and in the positive group 6.25 mm (IQR 5.40-7.50) (P=.0013). In the ROC curve analysis (AUC 0.804, SE 0.054), an optimal value of 5 mm BT with the following values was obtained: sensitivity 90.91%, specificity 78.79%, negative predictive value (NPV) 98.1%, positive predictive value (PPV) 41.7%, diagnostic OR 37.1, and accuracy 80.52%. Mean follow-up was 18.66±14,35 months, detecting 2/53 (3.77%) deaths in the BT<5 mm group, and 7/24 (29.17%) in the BT≥5 mm group. Survival curves between both groups were significantly different (P=.0013). CONCLUSIONS: A 5 mm cut-off point correctly distinguishes those patients with positive PET-CT from those with negative results in the early stages of cutaneous melanoma; therefore it could be included in initial staging of this subgroup of patients.

Effects of the relationship between 65Zn and blood cells. A dynamic and morphological study.

We have studied the dynamic pathway of 65Zn and its autoradiographic location in blood cells, even at the ultra-structural level. We have found evidence that tends to confirm the old biochemical postulates about the capacity of this isotope to displace iron in the haemoglobin molecule. Recently, the bibliography has demonstrated that 57Co is also able to perform this displacement, but unlike 65Zn it does not invalidate the Redox function of the molecule. In the case of 65Zn, the mentioned displacement invalidates this function because the radionuclide can only use valence 2. We have also contributed evidence of erythrocytes destruction by the spleen after the incorporation of 65Zn, as well as the clearly marked degradation of haematic pigments inside the spleen.

Influence of the presence of monoglyceride on the interfacial properties of soy protein isolate.

BACKGROUND: This study focused on the contribution of soy protein isolate (SPI), in the absence or presence of monostearin (ME), to surface and interfacial properties as a function of protein concentration and pH, which is relevant to the physical stability of a variety of food systems. RESULTS: An increase in protein content always yielded a rapid decrease in surface tension followed by an evolution towards an asymptotic value. Addition of ME gave rise to mixed SPI/ME films, although the interface became dominated by SPI above the concentration for interfacial saturation. The relative interfacial shear viscosity of SPI films showed a marked dependence on: aging time, which may be attributed to a reorganisation of protein species at the interface with some penetration of hydrophobic parts into the oil phase; shear forces, which may partially reverse this reorganisation, leading to shear-thickening behaviour; and pH, which is the key factor controlling which SPI species is predominant at the interface. The effect of adding ME also depends on pH, favouring a reinforcement of SPI/ME films only at low pH, at which 3S and 7S fractions are dominant. CONCLUSION: The results obtained indicate that SPI shows excellent potential to favour stabilisation of air/water and oil/water interfaces in food systems.

Functional non-synonymous polymorphisms prediction methods: current approaches and future developments.

Non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) are genetic variations that affect the encoded protein by an amino acid change. In humans, many naturally-occurring nsSNPs cause protein dysfunction and increase vulnerability to disease. Identification of such nsSNPs provides an important opportunity to develop drugs/nutrients with precise therapeutic targets. Therefore, current biomedical research and medicinal chemistry look for targets and functional nsSNPs, to establish correlation with disease susceptibility and foster rational drug design. We review the molecular bases of missense mutation effects at the protein level, namely on sequence conservation, including stability, conformation, biophysical parameters, and protein-protein interaction. Further, we summarize some computational methods, available information resources, and the current approaches used to predict nsSNPs functionality in human genome, most of which based on protein structures and/or evolutionary conservation. Finally, using an approach paradigmatic of the nsSNPs-gene interactions, we evaluate the functional consequences and phenotypic effects of nsSNPs on two genes associated with cholesterol response. Biophysical changes produced by exchanged amino acids I638V (rs5908) from the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl- coenzyme A reductase gene, and A370T (rs11669576) from the low density lipoprotein receptor gene have been analyzed with an emphasis on stability, activity, and structure of their related proteins. Based on available data and the results of our study, we propose that, even though the extent and precise nature of nsSNPs' role in health and disease is yet to be fully elucidated, targeted investigations are warranted and will--in the future--provide useful tools to develop targeted drugs.

Pancreatic involvement detected with (18)F-FDG PET/CT in disseminated sarcoidosis.

La sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. It may mimic malignancy and may affect multiple organs, with a variable clinical course. Pancreatic involvement is very rare. We present the case of a 78-year-old woman with systemic sarcoidosis whose (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan showed a pancreatic lesion and multiple lymphatic (thoracic and non-thoracic) and visceral lesions. The abnormal (18)F-FDG uptake in the pancreas was limited to the tail. A second (18)F-FDG PET/CT study performed 4 months and 3 weeks after the first PET/CT, following corticosteroid therapy during three and a half months, evidenced partial regression of the disease, with persistent (18)F-FDG pathological uptake in the pancreatic lesion.

In vivo hepatic oxidative stress because of carbon tetrachloride toxicity: protection by melatonin and pinoline.

The protective in vivo effects of melatonin or pinoline on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced oxidative damage were investigated in liver of rats and compared to rats injected only with CCl(4) (5 mL/kg body weight). Hepatic cell membrane fluidity, monitored using fluorescence spectroscopy, exhibited a significant decrease in animals exposed to CCl(4) compared to control rats. Increases in lipid and protein oxidation, as assessed by concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxyalkenals (4-HDA), and protein carbonylation, respectively, were also seen in hepatic homogenates of animals exposed to CCl(4). The administration of melatonin (10 mg/kg body weight) or pinoline injected 30 min before and 1 hr after CCl(4), fully prevented membrane rigidity and protein oxidation. However, treatment with melatonin was more effective in terms of reducing lipid peroxidation than pinoline, as the increases in MDA+4-HDA levels because of CCl(4) were reduced by 93.4% and 34.4% for melatonin or pinoline, respectively. Livers from CCl(4)-injected rats showed several histopathological alterations; above all, there were signs of necrosis and ballooning degeneration. The concurrent administration of melatonin or pinoline reduced the severity of these morphological changes. On the basis of the biochemical and histopathological findings, we conclude that both melatonin and pinoline were highly effective in protecting the liver against oxidative damage and membrane rigidity because of CCl(4). Therefore, these indoles may be useful as cotreatments for patients with hepatic intoxication induced by CCl(4).

Microscopía electrónica de barrido de la hiperplasia en la vellosidad molar / Scanning electron microscopy of placental hyperplasia

Objetivo: Estudio de la superficie externa del sincitiotrofoblasto de vesículas de mola hidatidiforme, fue rastreada utilizando la microscopía electrónica de barrido. Método: Especimenes de material molar de 21 semanas de embarazo se fjaron en 2 por ciento de glutaraldehido 0,1 M a 4ºC en sala de parto y posteriormente post fjados en 1 por ciento de tetraoxido de osmio siguiendo los procedimientos convencionales de la microscopía electrónica de barrido como deshidratación, desecado de punto crítico, cubrimiento iónico y observación con el microscopio electrónico de barrido. Resultados: Los resultados revelan cambios morfológicos en la membrana plasmática sincitial, desde superfcie aplanadas con pequeños gránulos o promontorios, hasta la formación de numerosas prolongaciones de membrana que originan pliegues, bandas o columnas, las cuales se ramifcan intensamente, tomando contacto entre sí para conformar una complicada trama, que deja un retículo de espacios como cavernas, las cuales se abren hacia el espacio intervelloso siendo la expresión de una intensa proliferación de membranas en hiperplasia. Conclusión: La observación de esta trama permite un mejor entendimiento de la estructura de la mola comparada con las imágenes de microscopía de luz.

Objective: Study of the external surface of the syncytiotrophoblast in vesicles of hydatidiform mole was examined and analysed using scanning electron microscopy. Method: Vesicles of molar material were taken at 21 weeks of pregnancy and fxed in 2 percent of glutaraldehyde 0.1 M at 4 °C in delivery room and furtherly post-fxed in 1 percent of tetroxide of osmium according with conventional procedures of the scanning electron microscopy as dehydration, critical point drying, surface coating and examination using scanning electron microscope. Result: The fndings reveal the morphological changes in the syncytial membrane from smooth surface with small bridges or granules to the formation of numerous prolongations of plasma membrane, which produce folds, bands or columns with ramifcations, that get in touch organizing a complex net that contain spaces opened to the intervillous space. This is an expression of the proliferation of syncytial plasma membrane during the hyperplasia. Conclusion: The tridimensional observation of this net complex permit a better understanding of the structure of the molar vesicle when these images are compared with those of light microscopy.

Presencia de alteraciones histopatológicas en vellosidades placentarias normales en Maracay (Venezuela) / The presence of hystopathological alterations in normal placental villi in Maracay, Venezuela

Objetivo: determinar la proporción de las alteraciones histopatológicas en las vellosidades y en el espacio intervelloso obtenida de cuatro placentas normales del último trimestre del embarazo. Metodología: por medio de la microscopía de luz y la tinción de hematoxilina y eosina (H&E) se identificaron, en 25 láminas de 5 regiones de la placenta, 6 variables cuantitativas (p.ej. inmadurez vellosa, nódulos sincitiales, cambios fibrinoides, edema velloso, fibrosis estromal y calcificación) y 9 variables cualitativas (p.ej. depósitos de fibrina, trombosis intervellosa, infartos, trombosis vascular, cambios en la pared del vaso, calcificación intraluminal, congestión vascular,inflamaciónyhemorragia).Los resultados de las variables cuantitativas se analizaron utilizando el Análisis de Varianza (ANAVAR) de 2 vías con submuestreo y el test de Tukey. En contraste, para las variables cualitativas se aplicó la prueba de Kruskal Wallis y se estimó el porcentaje de positividad según las regiones. Dichos análisis se realizaron por medio del software Statistix® 8.0 y SAS® 9.0 para Windows®. Resultados: no se presentaron diferencias significativas (p<0,05) entre las placentas más no entre las regiones. Del mismo modo, no se observó trombosis vascular, daño de la pared de lvaso,congestión vascular, calcificación intraluminal, inflamación ni hemorragia. Conclusión: las vellosidades analizadas se mostraron homogéneas dentro de cada placenta pero no entre las mismas, indicando una variabilidad que etiológicamente podría explicarse por factores genéticosyambientalesdecuyainteracciónresultarían las diferencias individuales para cada placenta.

Objective: determining the percentage of histopathological changes in chorionic villi and intervillous space in four placentas obtained from normal women’s pregnancies at term. Methodology: six quantitative variables (i.e. immaturity, syncytial knots, fibrinoid change, oedema, fibrosis and calcification) and nine qualitative variables (i.e. fibrin deposition, intervillous fibrin, infarction, thrombosis, changes in vessel walls, intraluminal calcification, vascular congestion, inflammation and haemorrhage) were indentified on 25 slides covering 5 placental regions using light microscopy and H&E staining. Quantitative variable results were analysed using two-way variance analysis with sub-sampling and Tukey’s test; qualitative variables (the percentage of positive regions) were analysed by Kruskal-Wallis test. The software used was Statistix® 8.0 and SAS® 9.0 for Windows®. Results: there were significant differences (p<0.05) between placenta (but not between regions) regarding syncytial knots, fibrinoid change, oedema, fibrosis and calcification. Vascular thrombosis, damage to vessel walls, vascular congestion, intraluminal calcification, inflammation and/or haemorrhage were not observed. Conclusion: the population of villi analysed was homogeneous in each placenta but not amongst them, thereby indicating variability which could be etiologically explained by genetic and environmental factors whose interaction may have resulted in the individual differences observed for each placenta.

[Positron emission tomography (PET) and PET-CT in renal, bladder and prostate cancer: update]. / La tomografía por emisión de positrones (PET) y PET-TAC en riñón, vías urinarias y próstata: actualización.

PET has demonstrated its utility in management decisions in several types of tumors. In urologic tract tumors and prostate cancer its diagnostic performance has been lower due to the urinary excretion of the radiotracer, which can mask the presence of lesions. However, specific protocols must be applied that improve the diagnostic performance of PET with 18F-FDG in the evaluation of pelvic lesions. Furthermore, prostate cancer is a low-grade tumor with low avidity for 18F-FDG. In spite of these limitations, with PET new and interesting possibilities have been presented. The availability of PET-CT systems has improved its diagnostic performance. On the other hand, the development of new radiotracers that allow targeting other molecular processes and that are metabolized by pathways different to the urinary tract signifies an important advantage compared to 18F-FDG and has evidenced interesting results.

Cambios degenerativos coriónicos asociados a malformaciones fetales del tubo neural durante el tercer trimestre del embarazo / Chorionic degenerative changes associated to fetal neural tube malformations during the third trimester of pregnancy

Evaluar las características de las vellosidades placentarias, sus vasos y espacio intervelloso. Estudio descriptivo, observacional, cualitativo-cuantitativo, retrospectivo, con muestreo no probabilístico de 6 placentas asociadas con malformación del tubo neural, analizadas mediante miscrocopia de luz comparadas en igual número de placentas no asociadas a malformación del tubo neural que sirvieron como controles. Los resultados se analizaron con la prueba de tendencia para datos correlacionados de respuesta dicotómica. Laboratorio de Microscopia Electrónica, CIADANA, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Maracay. Se observaron nódulos sincitiales, cambios fibrinoides, necrosis trofoblástica, edema, fibrosis estromal, trombosis, inflamación de la pared del vaso, un número de vasos de 4 a 6 por sección de vellosidad, calcificación intraluminal, daño de la pared del vaso, trombosis intervellosa y presencia mínima de células inflamatorias en las vellosidades observadas. Hubo diferencias significativas con respecto a edema y necrosis trofoblástica entre ambos grupos. En el grupo de estudio una mayor proporción de edema y necrosis trofoblástica provocarían la eliminación de vellosidades cuyas placentas están con deficienca placentaria indicando que aquellos cambios o agentes causales de la malformación fetal también estarían provocando anomalías en el desarrollo placentario.

La tomografía por emisión de positrones (PET) y PET-TAC en riñón, vías urinarias y próstata: Actualización / No disponible

La PET ha demostrado su utilidad en la toma de decisiones diagnóstico-terapéuticas en diversos tipos de tumores. En los tumores del tracto urinario y del cáncer de próstata su rendimiento diagnóstico ha sido menor debido a la eliminación urinaria del radiotrazador que puede enmascarar la presencia de lesiones. No obstante, deben aplicarse protocolos específicos que mejoran el rendimiento diagnóstico de la PET con 18F-FDG en la valoración de lesiones pélvicas. Además, el cáncer de próstata es un tumor de bajo grado con escasa avidez por la 18F-FDG. A pesar de estas limitaciones, con la PET se han planteado nuevas e interesantes posibilidades diagnósticas. La disponibilidad de equipos PET-TAC ha mejorado su rendimiento diagnóstico. Por otra parte, el desarrollo de nuevos radiotrazadores que permiten marcar otros procesos moleculares y que son metabolizados por vías diferentes de la urinaria, supone una ventaja importante respecto a la 18F-FDGy han proporcionado resultados interesantes (AU)

PET has demonstrated its utility in management decisions in several types of tumors. In urologic tract tumors and prostate cancer its diagnostic performance has been lower due to the urinary excretion of the radiotracer, which can mask the presence of lesions. However, specific protocols must be applied that improve the diagnostic performance of PET with 18FFDGin the evaluation of pelvic lesions. Furthermore, prostate cancer is a low-grade tumor with low avidity for 18F-FDG. Inspite of these limitations, with PET new and interesting possibilities have been presented. The availability of PET-CT systems has improved its diagnostic performance. On the other hand, the development of new radiotracers that allow targeting other molecular processes and that are metabolized by pathways different to the urinary tract signifies an important advantage compared to 18F-FDG and has evidenced interesting results (AU)

[Early response to treatment with Glivec detected with 18F-FDG PET in a patient with gastrointestinal stromal tumor]. / PET 18F-FDG en la detección temprana de la respuesta al tratamiento con Glivec en paciente con tumor del estroma gastrointestinal.

We present the case of a male patient with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in whom we conducted two (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) studies, the first one prior to beginning the treatment with Glivec and the second after one month of treatment. The first (18)F-FDG PET scan detected multiple FDG avid foci in distal esophagus, liver and in an interaortocava lymph node. The second (18)F-FDG PET showed very good response to therapy, with an almost complete disease remission. After 23 months of follow-up, the early response to treatment detected by (18)F-FDG PET was confirmed. The utility of (18)F-FDG PET in the evaluation of response to treatment in GIST is discussed and compared with CT.