Efecto del consumo de dietas con frijol blanco (Vigna unguiculata) con y sin cáscara sobre los lípidos plasmáticos en ratas hipercolesterolémicas / Effect of consumption of diets with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) with and without hull on plasma lipids in hypercholesterolemic rats

Las leguminosas constituyen un componente importante de la dieta regular del venezolano. Algunos estudios han demostrado que los granos de varias leguminosas tienen un efecto hipocolesterolémico. En este estudio se evaluó el efecto del consumo de frijol blanco Vigna unguiculata con y sin cáscara sobre los lípidos plasmáticas en ratas hipercolesterolémicas. Treinta ratas machos adultas, cepa Sprague Dawley, fueron estudiadas en dos etapas. Una primera de tres semanas en la que mediante manipulación dietética, se transformaron ratas normales en hipercolesterolémicas. En la segunda etapa se diseñaron 4 grupos, un control normocolesterolémico sin dieta experimental, un hipercolesterolémico sin dieta experimental, un hipercolesterolémico alimentado con frijol con cáscara y uno hipercolesterolémico alimentado con frijol sin cáscara durante tres semanas. Las dietas con frijol blanco Vigna unguiculata produjeron una disminución significativa de colesterol total y triglicéridos de un 35.01% y 39.48% respectivamente, en comparación con el grupo hipercolesterolémico sin frijol. Para la fracción del colesterol-LDL la disminución fue de 59%, sin encontrarse diferencias significativas entre los grupos alimentados con frijol con y sin cáscara. Un hallazgo interesante fue el incremento significativo del colesterol-HDL de 29.66% en el grupo alimentado con frijol con cáscara, lo cual es un factor de prevención para la aparición de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares. Los resultados de este estudio señalan que el consumo de frijol blanco con o sin cáscara tuvo efecto beneficioso en el perfil lipídico, en este modelo experimental. En estudios futuros podría considerarse su uso en la dietoterapia de las hiperlipidemias.

Legumes are important components of Venezuelan diet. Several studies have shown that grains of legumes have a hypocholesterolemic effect. This study evaluated the effect of consumption of white beans Vigna unguiculata with and without hull on plasma lipids in hypercholesterolemic rats. Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, were studied in two stages. The first of three weeks, by means of dietary manipulation, normal rats became hypercholesterolemic. In the second stage, 4 groups were designed, one normocholesterolemic control without experimental diet, one hypercholesterolemic without experimental diet, one hypercholesterolemic fed with bean with hull and one hypercholesterolemic fed with bean without hull for three weeks. Diets with white beans Vigna unguiculata produced a significant decrease in total cholesterol and triglycerides of 35.01% and 39.48% respectively, compared with the hypercholesterolemic group without beans. The fraction of LDL-cholesterol showed a reduction of 59%, without significant differences between the groups fed with beans with and without hull. An interesting finding was the significant increase of HDL-cholesterol of 29.66% in the group fed with bean with hull, which is a preventive factor for cardiovascular diseases. The results of this study indicate that consumption of white beans with or without hull had beneficial effect on lipid profile, in this experimental model. In future studies it could be considered for using in diet therapy of human hyperlipidemia.

Survey to identify Mycobacterium leprae-infected household contacts of patients from prevalent regions of leprosy in Colombia

Leprosy in Colombia is in the post-elimination phase; nevertheless, there are regions of this country where the incidence is still around 3-4/100,000. Early detection of leprosy patients is a priority for achieving control and elimination of leprosy; however, the clinical exam is not very sensitive and thus, the majority of patients are diagnosed only when they demonstrate lesions, and damage to the nerves and skin has already occurred. The goal of the present study was to identify Mycobacterium leprae infection and immune responses in household contacts (HHC) of leprosy patients from three prevalent regions of Colombia. Clinical examination, the Mitsuda test, evaluation of IgM anti-PGL-I in the serum, the bacillar index (BI), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from nasal swabs (NS) were performed for 402 HHC of 104 leprosy patients during a cross-sectional survey. Positive titers for IgM anti-PGL1 were found for 54 HHC, and PCR-positive NS for 22. The Mitsuda reaction was negative for 38 HHC, although three were positive for IgM anti-PGL-1 titers. The data document that leprosy transmission among HHC is still occurring in a non-endemic country.

Clinical variables related with in-stent restenosis late regression after bare metal coronary stenting

In-stent restenosis (ISR) has an incidence between 20% and 30% using bare metal stents. ISR late regression phenomenon (ISRLR) has been previously described, but clinical variables related with this phenomenon remain unclear. The aim of the study was to identify the variables related with ISRLR. METHODS: We identified from our data base 30 patients between November 1995 and September 2002 that fulfilled the following criteria: 1) Documented ISR at follow-up angiography (CA-1); 2) treated medically; and 3) Referred for a second follow-up angiography (CA-2). at least 3 months after CA-1. ISRLR was defined as a > 0.2 mm increase in MLD between CA-1 and CA-2, calculated as the 2-fold of our inter-observer variability. ISR late progression was defined as a > 0.2 mm decrease in minimum lumen diameter (MLD) between CA-1 and CA-2. RESULTS: At the time of CA-2 only 2 patients (6.7%) had symptoms related with the previously stented vessel. We found a mean MLD of 1.03+/-0.34 mm and 1.54+/-0.48 mm at CA-1 and CA-2 respectively (AMLD = 0.51 +/-0.34 mm; p < 0.001). Twenty four patients (80.0%) had ISRLR. Two variables were related to the presence or absence ISRLR: Current smoking at the time of coronary stenting (70.8% vs 20.0% respectively, p = 0.026) and acute coronary syndrome as clinical indication for coronary stenting (and 83.5% vs 40.0% respectively, p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: ISRLR is a frequent phenomenon in patients with ISR treated medically, probably contributing to the benign long-term clinical outcome that has been previously described in patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic ISR. Current smoking at the time of coronary stenting and acute coronary syndrome as clinical indication for coronary stenting are associated with this phenomenon.

Listeriosis neonatal: reporte de un caso / Neonatal listeriosis: A case report

Se presenta el caso de un recién nacido pretérmino de 34 semanas de edad gestacional y cuya madre inicia con picos febriles de hasta 39§C 72 horas antes del nacimiento, así como con datos de actividad uterina. Se corrobora infección de vías urinarias, por lo que se hospitaliza e inicia manejo con cefalosporinas de segunda generación, así como uteroinhibidores. La evolución es incidiosa, y debido a la presencia de datos de sufrimiento fetal se realiza cesárea urgente; se observa salida de líquido meconial +++. El producto nace con apnea primaria y muere a las siete horas de vida extrauterina. El estudio histopatológico demostró la presencia de microabscesos y granulomas diseminados, lo que se corrobora en la mayoría de los órganos con las manifestaciones clínicas de listeria temprana, conocido como síndrome de granulomatosis infantiséptica