Parafollicular C-cells of the thyroid are decreased in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

BACKGROUND

Parathyroid and thymic anomalies related to embryonic neural crest dysfunction have been demonstrated in rats with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). These rats, like infants with CDH, have conotruncal, facial, and other neurocristal defects. The present study examines whether parafollicular C-cells (CC) of the thyroid, whose embryogenesis is related to that of the parathyroids and thymus, might also be abnormal in babies with CDH.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Autopsy sections of the thyroids of 12 babies dead from CDH and of 11 controls were stained with anti-calcitonin antibodies. Calcitonin-stained areas and the histological distribution of CC within the thyroid gland were assessed. Mann-Whitney tests were used for comparison, with p<0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS

The proportion of stained surface to total thyroid surface was significantly smaller in CDH babies than in controls (0.035±0.030% vs. 0.072±0.052%, p<0.05). A normal central CC location was demonstrated in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Parafollicular thyroid C-cells are deficient in patients with CDH. These findings further support the involvement of neural crest dysregulation in the pathogenesis of CDH and the pertinence of using this experimental model to investigate the human condition. The clinical effects of this anomaly are unknown and probably irrelevant, but they are currently under scrutiny.

[Chronic fatigue syndrome: study of a consecutive series of 824 cases assessed in two specialized units]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disabling disorder. Few studies are available in our area on the prevalence and characteristics of CFS. Therefore, we carried out a study of a consecutive series of 824 cases diagnosed in two specialized units.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated all of the CFS patients seen from January 2008 to June 2010. We analyzed social and demographic data, employment status, time of clinical evolution, trigger factors and onset, Fukuda and Canadian criteria, associated comorbidities and treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 824 patients were included, 748 (91%) woman, mean age 48±9 years. Average age of onset of symptoms was 35±11 years, time to diagnosis 108±88 month. A precipitating factor was identified in 481 (58%) patients, the onset was gradual in 517 (63%) and 515 (62.5%) were not employed. The most outstanding diagnostic criteria of Fukuda were prolonged generalized fatigue after exercise, sleep disturbance and impairments in concentration and short-term memory. The different groups of symptoms defined by the Canadian consensus showed that CFS is a homogeneous entity. Accompanying comorbidity phenomena were anxiety 691 (83%), sicca syndrome 678 (82%), fibromyalgia 450 (55%). A total of 63% of patients (520) received pharmacological treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

CFS is an illness that preferentially affects young women and results in employment absenteeism. The most relevant clinical features were prolonged generalized fatigue after exercise, neurocognitive impairment and sleep disturbance. In the evaluation of the patient, it is very important to apply the Canadian criteria and to assess comorbidity.

Variant of the anastigmatic telescope with three mirrors for back focal length

In this paper, an optical design is presented for an anastigmatic telescope with back focal length corrected with exact ray tracing to eliminate spherical, coma, and astigmatism aberrations. The telescope is formed of three conical mirrors, two of them polished on the same substratum. The optical design is divided into three stages: we began the design obtaining the Gaussian parameters in a first-order solution; posteriorly, were obtained analytically the three mirrors' asphericity in a third-order design. The final design stage consists of the implementation of the Fermat's principle, the Abbe sine condition, and the Coddington equations for the exact correction for the three aforementioned aberrations.

[Gallstone disease post-radical gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases, January 1990 to December 2000]

SUBJECT

To determinate the frecuency and the time of development of the gallbladder stones in gastrectomy post-operated patients with stomach adenocarcinoma at The National Cancer Institute in Lima, Peru.

METHODS

In an observational, descriptive and retrospective case series design, 148 patiens' files who underwent gastrectomy for stomach adenocarcinoma in the National Cancer Institue of Lima during 1990 and 2000, have been reviewed looking for the development of gallbladder stones.

RESULTS

A total de 148 patients were involved in this study. 29 of them (19.6%) develop gallbladder stones during the (x years of) follow up vs 119 (80.9%) . The mean age ot the 29 patients with gallbladder stones were 59.9 years ans 18 of them were female and 11 male.\The mean time of develop gallbladder stones was 3.1 years.According to the type of surgery, 14 patient wiht gallbladder stones underwent to subtotal gastrectomy and 15 to total gastrectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The frecuency of gallbladder stones post gastrectomy in this study was 19.6%. The mean time of the develop and diagnosis of litiasis was 3.1 years.To perform the colecistectomy at the same time of the gastrectomy could be an important decision in patients with high risk of gallstones and gallbladder cancer.We need furthermore studies to have conclusions about the risk factors.

Use of farming and agro-industrial wastes as versatile barriers in reducing pesticide leaching through soil columns

Increased interest has been recently focused on assessing the influence of the addition of organic wastes related to movement of pesticides in soils of low organic matter (OM) content. This study reports the effect of two different amendments, animal manure (composted sheep manure) and agro-industrial waste (spent coffee grounds) on the mobility of 10 pesticides commonly used for pepper protection on a clay-loam soil (OM = 0.22%). The tested compounds were azoxystrobin, cyprodinil, fludioxonil, hexaconazole, kresoxim-methyl, pyrimethanil, tebuconazole, and triadimenol (fungicides), pirimicarb (insecticide), and propyzamide (herbicide). Breakthrough curves were obtained from disturbed soil columns. Cumulative curves obtained from unamended soil show a leaching of all pesticides although in different proportions (12-65% of the total mass of compound applied), showing triadimenol and pirimicarb the higher leachability. Significant correlation (r = 0.93, p<0.01) was found between the observed and bibliographical values of GUS index. The addition of the amendments used drastically reduced the movement of the studied pesticides. Only two pesticides were found in leachates from amended soils, pyrimethanil (<1%) for both, and pirimicarb (44%) in the soil amended with spent coffee grounds. A decrease in pesticide leaching was observed with the increase in dissolved organic matter (DOM) of leachates. The results obtained point to the interest in the use of organic wastes in reducing the pollution of groundwater by pesticide drainage.

Lumbricus terrestris L. activity increases the availability of metals and their accumulation in maize and barley

The effect of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L. on metal availability in two mining soils was assessed by means of chemical extraction methods and a pot experiment using crop plants. Results from single and sequential extractions showed that L. terrestris had a slight effect on metal fractionation in the studied soils: only metals bound to the soil organic matter were significantly increased in some cases. However, we found that L. terrestris significantly increased root, shoot and total Pb and Zn concentrations in maize and barley for the soil with the highest concentrations of total and available metals. Specifically, shoot Pb concentration was increased by a factor of 7.5 and 3.9 for maize and barley, respectively, while shoot Zn concentration was increased by a factor of 3.7 and 1.7 for maize and barley, respectively. Our results demonstrated that earthworm activity increases the bioavailability of metals in soils.

Prevalence of ADHD in chronic fatigue syndrome

Introduction

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is characterized by severe fatigue associated with pain, sleep disturbance, attentional impairment and headaches. Evidence points towards a prominent role for Central Nervous System in its pathogenesis, and alterations in serotoninergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission have been described.

Attention-deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) courses with inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. It affects children and persists into adulthood in 50% of patients. Dopamine transporter abnormalities lead to impaired neurotransmission of catecholaminergic frontal-subcortical-cerebellar circuits.

Objectives

To describe the prevalence of ADHD in a sample of CFS patients, and the clinical implications of the association.

Aims

To study the relationship between CFS and ADHD.

Methods

The initial sample consisted of 142 patients, of whom 9 were excluded because of severe psychopathology or incomplete evaluation. All the patients (age 49 ± 87; 94,7 women) received CFS diagnoses according to Fukuda criteria. ADHD was assessed with a diagnostic interview (CAADID), ADHD Rating Scale and the scale WURS, for childhood diagnose. The scales FIS-40, HAD, STAI and Pluthik Risk of Suicide (RS) were administrated.

Results

38 patients (28,8%) were diagnosed of childhood ADHD (4 combined, 22 hyperactive-impulsive, 12 inattentive) and persisted into adulthood in 28 (21,1%; 5 combined, 4 hyperactive-impulsive, 19 inattentive). There were no differences in Fukuda criteria profile and FIS-40 between groups. ADHD patients scored higher in HAD-Anxiety (9,88 ± 4,82 vs. 12,57 ± 3,49; p = 0,007), HAD-Depression (9,69 ± 4,84 vs. 12,04 ± 4,53; p = 0,023), STAI-E (30,55 ± 14,53 vs. 38,41 ± 11,35; p = 0,012), and RS (6,13 ± 3,48 vs. 8,49 ± 3,07; p = 0,002).

Conclusions

ADHD is frequent in CFS patients and it is associated with more severe clinical profile.

Overproduction of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in the resistance to apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells from diabetic patients: a link between inflammation and apoptosis

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Inflammation is a common feature in cardiovascular diseases, including diabetes mellitus. In addition to the well-known inflammatory role of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2), this protein has also been implicated in apoptosis resistance in tumour cells. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from diabetic patients are also resistant to apoptosis because of an increased abundance of B cell lymphoma 2 protein (BCL2). In this work, we investigated whether overproduction of COX-2 was involved in the resistance to apoptosis in VSMC from diabetic patients.

METHODS

VSMC were obtained from internal mammary arteries from patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Apoptosis was measured by DNA fragmentation, BCL2 degradation and cytochrome c release.

RESULTS

Apoptosis induced by C-reactive protein in cells from non-diabetic patients was mediated by COX-2. VSMC from diabetic patients showed higher basal levels of COX-2 compared with those from non-diabetic patients. Transfection of VSMC from non-diabetic patients with a plasmid containing COX-2 (also known as PTGS2) increased basal production of COX-2 and BCL2 and mimicked the resistance to apoptosis that occurs in diabetic patients. We also found a significant correlation (R = 0.846, p = 0.016) between COX-2 and BCL2 production in arterial rings from diabetic patients measured by confocal microscopy. However, inhibition of COX-2 production by small interfering RNA proved unable to reverse BCL2 production in diabetic VSMC.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

These results suggest a link between inflammation (COX-2) and apoptosis resistance (BCL2) in the arteries of diabetic patients. This relationship is not causative and the common production of these two proteins may be co-regulated by shared regulatory elements in diabetes.

Polymorphism Ala54Thr of fatty acid-binding protein 2: Allelic frequencies and influence on cardiovascular risk factors in a multicenter study of Castilla y Leon

BACKGROUND

A transition of guanin to alanin at codon 54 of the fatty acid-binding protein 2 gene (FABP2) results in an amino acid substitution (Ala54 to Thr54). This polymorphism was associated with some cardiovascular risk factors.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of the Thr54 polymorphism in the FABP2 gene on obesity anthropometric parameters and cardiovascular risk factors in the fasted state in obese subjects and the allelic distribution of this polymorphism in a geographic area of Spain.

DESIGN

A population of 264 obese subjects was analyzed in a cross-sectional study from all health centers of Castilla y Leon (Spain). A nutritional and biochemical evaluation was performed. The statistical analysis was performed for the combined Ala54/Thr54 and Thr54/Thr54 genotype as a dominant model.

RESULTS

The mean age was 41.1 ± 13.1 years and the mean BMI 36.5 ± 5.9, with 94 males (35.6%) and 170 females (74.4%). One hundred and fifty-three subjects (58%) had the genotype Ala54/Ala54 (wild-type group) and 111 (42%) participants had the genotype Ala54/Thr54 (n = 92, 34.8%) or Thr54/Thr54 (n = 19, 7.2%) (mutant-type group). The health area of Valladolid had a lower frequency of wild-type genotype and Ala54 allelic frequency than all the other health areas of Castilla y Leon. C-reactive protein was higher in the mutant-type than the wild-type group (3.4 ± 5.6 vs. 7.9 ± 10.4 mg/dl; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The finding of this study is the association of the Thr54/Ala54 and Thr54/Thr54 FABP2 phenotypes with higher levels of C-reactive protein without relation to insulin resistance. Frequencies of this polymorphism are different among health areas of Castilla y Leon.

Gallium-assisted growth of silicon nanowires by electron cyclotron resonance plasmas

The use of gallium droplets for growing Si nanowires (SiNWs) by electron cyclotron resonance plasmas is investigated. First, the relationship between evaporation time and resultant size of the gallium droplets is studied. Through the use of spectroscopic ellipsometry, the dependence of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) energy on the droplet size is determined. From these gallium droplets, SiNWs were grown at 300 and 550 °C in electron cyclotron resonance plasmas containing SiH(4), Ar, and H(2). Scanning electron microscopy results show that tapered NWs are obtained for a wide range of growth conditions. Besides, it is found that H(2) plays an important role in the parasitic axial growth of the SiNWs. Namely, H(2) inhibits the radial growth and contributes dramatically to increasing the SiNW defects.

Polymorphism Trp64Arg of beta 3 adrenoreceptor gene: allelic frequencies and influence on insulin resistance in a multicenter study of Castilla-León

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The genetic variant (Trp64Arg) is a missense mutation located within the beta3 adrenoreceptor (Beta3AR). The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of Trp64Arg polymorphism in the Beta3AR gene on insulin resistance in obese patients and the allelic distribution of this polymorphismin a geographic area of Spain.

DESIGN

A population of 264 obese patients was analyzed. A bioimpedance, blood pressure, an assessment of nutritional intake, and biochemical parameters were measured. The beta 3 adrenoreceptor gene polymorphism(Trp64Arg) was genotyped.

RESULTS

Two hundred and twenty six patients (77 males/149 females) (85.6%) had the genotype Trp64/Trp64 (wild type group) with and average age of 41.12 +/- 13.1 years and 38 patients (16 males/22 females) Trp64/Arg64 (14.4%) (mutant type group) with an average age of 40.5 +/- 12.7 years. High frequencies of Arg64 allele were observed in Salamanca and Valladolid. In the mutant type group, HOMA (3.75 +/- 2.77 vs 5.27 +/- 5.4; p < 0.05) was higher than wild type group.

CONCLUSION

The finding of this study is the association of the Trp64/Arg64 Beta3AR with higher levels of HOMA. Frequencies of this polymorphism are different among geographic areas.

Photocatalytic degradation of eight pesticides in leaching water by use of ZnO under natural sunlight

Photodegradation of eight pesticides in leaching water at pilot plant scale using the tandem ZnO/Na(2)S(2)O(8) as photosensitizer/oxidant and compound parabolic collectors under natural sunlight is reported. The pesticides, habitually used on pepper culture and belonging to different chemical groups were azoxyxtrobin, kresoxim-methyl, hexaconazole, tebuconazole, triadimenol, and pyrimethanil (fungicides), primicarb (insecticide), and propyzamide (herbicide). As expected, the influence of the semiconductor used at 150 mg L(-1) on the degradation of pesticides was very significant in all cases. Photocatalytic experiments show that the addition of photosensitizer strongly improves the elimination of pesticides in comparison with photolytic tests; significantly increasing the reaction rates. The use of Na(2)S(2)O(8) implies a significant reduction in treatment time showing a quicker reaction time than ZnO alone. On the contrary, the addition of H(2)O(2) into illuminated ZnO suspensions does not improve the rate of photooxidation. The disappearance of the pesticides followed first-order kinetics according to Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and complete degradation occurs from 60 to 120 min. The disappearance time (DT(75)), referred to the normalized illumination time (t(30 W)) was lower than 3 min in all cases.