Sensory Shelf Life of Dulce de Leche

The objectives of this research were to determine the sensory cutoff points for dulce de leche (DL) critical descriptors, both for defective off-flavors and for storage changes in desirable attributes, and to estimate the shelf life of DL as a function of storage temperature. The critical descriptors used to determine the cutoff points were plastic flavor, burnt flavor, dark color, and spreadability. Linear correlations between sensory acceptability and trained panel scores were used to determine the sensory failure cutoff point for each descriptor. To estimate shelf life, DL samples were stored at 25, 37, and 45 degrees C. Plastic flavor was the first descriptor to reach its cutoff point at 25 degrees C and was used for shelf-life calculations. Plastic flavor vs. storage time followed zero-order reaction rate. Shelf-life estimations at different temperatures were 109 d at 25 degrees C, 53 d at 37 degrees C, and 9 d at 45 degrees C. The activation energy, necessary to calculate shelf lives at different temperatures, was 14,370 +/- 2080 cal/mol.

Detection of a CBG-like protein in human Fallopian tube tissue*

The acrosome reaction (AR), a modified exocytotic process, is prerequisite for successful mammalian fertilization. The protein component that is responsible for the AR-inducing activity of human follicular fluid, has been found to be immunologically identical with corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), which is well characterized and serves as a transport protein for progesterone and cortisol in the plasma. Our findings have shown that the CBG-like protein is expressed by endothelial cells of the Fallopian tube depending on the hormonal cycle. In the culture medium of human epithelial tubal cells, the CBG-like protein was detected by Western blot analysis. The protein was also found in biologically active form in human tubular fluid. Our investigations strongly indicate that human Fallopian tube cells actively express and secrete a CBG-like progesterone-binding protein, which might play a role in the in vivo modulation of human sperm AR.

Update on the impact of Chlamydia trachomatis infection on male fertility

With approximately 90 million cases annually, infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial disease in the world. Considering that these infections are often asymptomatic and cause major complications like acute pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility or infant pneumonia, the estimated costs for diagnosis and treatment in the USA amounts to 2.2 million US dollars for each 500 cases. Therefore, there is a high need for correct, quick and cost-effective diagnosis and treatment of this urogenital tract infection. New innovative therapies provide good results with regard to efficacy and patients' compliance. The success rates of treatments are at least 95%. However, the occurrence of antibiotic resistance should not be ignored and new treatment schemes must be developed. The state-of-the-art of diagnosis and treatment of chlamydial infections as well as the pathophysiology is discussed in this review. In conclusion, infections with C. trachomatis is an important public health problem, especially in third world and developing countries, and more socio-economic studies linking secondary prevention of chlamydial infections, infertility and adverse pregnancy outcome are needed to understand more of its aetiology. In addition, diagnosis and treatment should be improved. Data in men revealed that past infections but not present infections are more related to male infertility. There is still controversial results. In future studies, function of the seminal vesicles and evaluation of the antioxidant capacity should be taken into account when role of C. trachomatis infection on male fertility is assessed.

[Events related with injury severity in pediatric multiple trauma]

AIMS

Epidemiological analysis of main factors affecting multiple trauma in children in our environment.

METHODS

We reviewed the data collected from the patients (n = 2.166) admitted to our hospital because of trauma and included in our Registry from January 1995 to December 2000. Among this group 79 patients were considered severely injured trauma patients according Injury Severity Score (ISS) (ISS > 15) and selected for the study. Statistical analysis was done using chi2 and Student t test, p values under 0.01 were considered significant.

RESULTS

Group gender distribution was 49 males and 30 females, age average was 9.7 years (range 0-15 years) Traffic related injuries were the leading cause of trauma in this group (77,2%). Initial triage by using the Pediatric Trauma Score allowed identifying the injury severity in 73,4% of patients (58 children obtained a PTS < or = 8). In 32,9% of the cases the patient was in coma at admission in the Emergency (Glasgow Coma Scale < or = 8, n = 26). ISS average was 23.4 (range 16-75). Most patients suffered from multiple injuries (87,3%), average of injuries number was 4,7 (range 1-9). The most frequent trauma localization was cranial trauma. Admission in the intensive care unit was necessary in 65,8% of patients, and any kind of surgical procedure was done in 35,4%. Average length of stay was 17,1 days (range 0-214 days). Injury severity was higher in automotive patients without restraining systems (I.S.S. average 27,2, mortality 16,6%). Overall mortality was 11,4% (n = 9), and 94.3% of patients presented any functional or anatomic disability.

CONCLUSIONS

Traffic related injuries are the main cause of multiple trauma in children. The severity and high mortality of these injuries make imperative polytonal education systems and the use of restraining devices.

Urogenital inflammation: changes of leucocytes and ROS

The presence of excess leucocytes in the semen has been associated with male infertility. According to the WHO, concentrations of more than 106 leucocytes ml-1 are considered as leucocytospermia, indicating genital tract infections. Up to now, no consensus has been achieved on how leucocytes should be quantified in semen. Using the peroxidase staining and monoclonal antibodies to CD15, CD45 and CD68, we found significant differences between the detection methods. Only 47.4% of the semen samples that were assessed as leucocytospermic by CD45 were identified as such by peroxidase staining. The concentration of peroxidase-positive cells was significantly correlated with polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) elastase (P < 0.0001). However, a negative correlation of peroxidase-positive cells with the sperm concentration was only found in oligozoospermic patients (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the slightly positive correlation with normal sperm morphology seems to be applicable only in cases of oligozoospermia. Significant negative correlation of the number of peroxidase-positive cells were found for both maximal inducible acrosome reaction (P = 0.0219) and the inducibility of acrosome reaction (P = 0.0370), indicating a rather deleterious effect of leucocytes on this important sperm function. Concerning the result in the in vitro fertilization programme, none of the examined parameters (PMN elastase, concentration of round cells and peroxidase-positive cells) showed a correlation with either fertilization or pregnancy. This result seems to be reasonable as severely damaged spermatozoa and leucocytes are eliminated from the ejaculate by different sperm separation methods. Interestingly, a significant negative correlation of the TUNEL assay as a measure of sperm DNA fragmentation was found only with pregnancy (P = 0.006) but not with fertilization. As DNA fragmentation can also be caused by ROS that are generated by leucocytes, this causality should not be neglected.

Weekly paclitaxel for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients not suitable for platinum-based therapy

Platinum-based combinations are efficacious in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but their toxicity makes them unsuitable for elderly and for patients with co-morbidities. We assessed the efficacy and toxicity of low-dose of paclitaxel in patients who were elderly or who had contraindications against cisplatin therapy. Seventy-one patients (median age 68; range 42-82 years) with unresectable NSCLC were treated with weekly paclitaxel (80 mg/m2) infusion (1 h) for several cycles without intervening rest periods. Thirty-seven patients had PS 1 and 34 had PS 2 status. A total of 614 courses were administered (median 9, range 2-20). There were no episodes of grade 4 toxicities and only 1 patient had grade 3 thrombopenia. Grade 3 anemia or neutropenia were not observed and severe non-hematological toxicity was uncommon: grade 1-2 fatigue in 52%; grade 1-2 motor neuropathy in 42% and grade 3 in 5.5%; grade 1-2 sensory neuropathy in 46.3% of patients. Twenty-seven of the 67 evaluable patients (40.3%) had an objective response, whereas 26 patients (38.8%) had stable disease. The median overall survival for the entire group was 8.4 months (95% CI = 5.6 to 11.2) and the 1-year and 2-year survival was 37.4% and 12.1%, respectively. The median time-to-progression was 5.4 months (95% CI = 3.3 to 7.4). Our data show that low-dose weekly paclitaxel is active and well tolerated in this group of patients with NSCLC and poor prognosis and, as such, is useful for patients in whom platinum-based combinations are not suitable.

Reactive oxygen species induce reversible capacitation in human spermatozoa

Leucocytospermia has been associated with reduced sperm motility and decreased capacity for sperm-egg interaction. This effect could be mediated through reactive oxygen species (ROS), which, at high concentrations, induce lipid peroxidation and cellular death. The high impact on sperm capacitation reported in other mammalians should be more accurately assessed in the human because premature activation could affect sperm fertilizing capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate both the effect of ROS on sperm capacitation and the protective role of seminal plasma. Spermatozoa selected by Percoll gradient were incubated with polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocytes isolated from blood and activated by phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Different seminal plasma concentrations were added immediately or after 3-h incubation. Afterwards, ROS production was evaluated by luminescence and sperm capacitation by chlortetracycline stain. In PMN granulocytes and sperm suspensions, the basal ROS production was < 32 x 103 relative luminescence units (RLU). After stimulation with PMA, the rate of ROS production by PMN increased to 1,287 x 103 RLU. Incubation of sperm with activated PMN resulted in an increase of sperm capacitation (37% versus 19% in the control). Immediate addition of seminal plasma caused a significant reduction in ROS (P < 0.01) and prevented sperm from capacitating. A higher effect in inhibition of sperm capacitation was observed when seminal plasma had been added after 3-h incubation. The results suggest that human sperm capacitation can prematurely be induced by exogenous ROS and this effect can be reversed by seminal plasma. Thus, human sperm capacitation is another functional parameter that may be affected by nonphysiological ROS production.

Quiet-time statistics of electrostatic turbulent fluxes from the JET tokamak and the W7-AS and TJ-II stellarators

The statistics of the quiet times between successive turbulent flux bursts measured at the edge of the JET tokamak and the W7-AS and TJ-II stellarators are analyzed in search for evidence of self-organized critical behavior. The results obtained are consistent with what would be expected in the situation where the underlying plasma is indeed in a near critical state.

Intact Medtronic and Carpentier Edwards S.A.V.: clinical and hemodynamic outcomes over 13 years

We report on 215 consecutive patients with isolated aortic replacement of which 91 received an Intact Medtronic (IM) prosthesis and 124 a Carpentier Edwards SAV. (CE). More than 50% of patients were over 70 years old. Follow-up was complete for 95% of patients. Mean follow-up was 6.04 years (16 days-13 years); a total of 1244 patient-years (IM 6.61years, 590 patient-years, CE 5.95 years, 670 patient-years).

RESULTS

the following results are expressed for IM and CE groups respectively. Early mortality: 3.3% and 8.13%. Late mortality: 23 and 27 patients. Survival at 13 years: 53.31+/-7.63% and 47.47+/-7.9%. Major thromboembolism: 0.34% and 0.30% per patient-year. SVD: 0.16% and 0.14% per patient-year. Endocarditis: 0.33% and 0.29%. Re-operation: 0.5% and 0.44%. Over 95% of patients are re-operation free at 13 years.

CONCLUSION

Intact and Carpentier valves had similar durability and clinical/hemodynamic results. Both have proved excellent aortic valve substitutes in elderly patients.

Effect of albumin and polyvinyl alcohol on the vitality, motility and acrosomal integrity of canine spermatozoa incubated in vitro

Sperm culture media used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures are important factors concerning the viability, motility and acrosomal integrity of spermatozoa. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three different sperm diluting media, tissue culture medium (TCM-199), sperm culture medium (Sp-TALP) and human tubular fluid (HTF) supplemented with varying concentrations of bovine serum albumin (1, 4 and 6%) or polyvinyl alcohol (0.8%) on the acrosomal integrity, motility and viability of canine spermatozoa. Ejaculates collected from four dogs were diluted in all media and spermatozoa were separated from seminal plasma by the swim-up technique. Sperm progressive motility was assessed using a phase contrast microscope. Viability and acrosomal integrity were evaluated using a dual stain technique (Giemsa-Trypan blue). The results demonstrated that the number of live canine spermatozoa was similar in culture media supplemented or not supplemented with macromolecules. A minimal concentration of albumin (1%) in the three media showed similar effects on vitality, motility and acrosomal integrity, as had higher concentrations (4 and 6%). The percentage of acrosome-intact spermatozoa was markedly higher after HTF (94.1%) than after TCM-199 (70.1%) or Sp-TALP (71.0%) without supplementation. It is concluded that serum bovine albumin, irrespective of the concentration, preserved sperm viability and function, and HTF is the most suitable medium for preserving the acrosome in canine spermatozoa prepared for in vitro manipulation through short incubation.

[Submental abscess by Lactobacillus acidophilus/jensenii]

The different species of Lactobacillus genus are bacteria of a low pathogenicity. They are found in the gastrointestinal tract, the female genitourinary tract, and also as part of the anaerobic flora in the mouth. Due to this low pathogenicity, they are generally related with infections together with other with more virulent microorganisms, or in immunocompromised patients. In our case, Lactobacillus appears alone as an etiological agent in an immunocompetent patient with a submental abscess.

Quiet-time statistics: a tool to probe the dynamics of self-organized-criticality systems from within the strong overlapping regime

A method is presented that allows one to obtain information about the underlying dynamics of a self-organized-criticality system even when the strong-overlapping or hydrodynamic regime (in which individual avalanches are no longer distinguishable) is the only one amenable of probing. The method is based on the analysis of the statistics of the lapses of time between activity bursts or quiet times. The case of a randomly driven running sandpile is used to illustrate the use and capabilities of this technique.

Transition in the dynamics of a diffusive running sandpile

A running sandpile is shown to undergo a dynamical transition as diffusion is increased from zero. The transition takes place after the local diffusion has become so large as to erase the local inhomogeneities, caused by the intermittent rain of sand, before they can trigger avalanche activity. The system then undergoes an abrupt change with the self-similar structure of the dynamics being replaced with quasiperiodic, near system-size transport events. These results may have significant implications for many of the driven physical systems for which self-organized criticality based dynamical models have been proposed.

The TATA-less promoter of VP1, a plant gene controlling seed germination

Vp1 is a seed-specific gene involved in the control of dormancy and germination. We here present the complete sequence of the sorghum vp1 promoter/enhancer region highlighting its main features, especially the lack of canonical TATA and CAAT boxes and the presence of elements responsive to abscisic acid and light. The region closest to the start of transcription is highly homologous to the partial proximal sequence reported for the maize vp1 promoter. This region is interrupted by a 57-nt stretch containing 14 CT microsatellite repeats. We observed a poor overall homology to the promoter from abi3 gene, the Arabidopsis counterpart bearing a similar coding sequence. However, there exists a high degree of homology (89%) between a TATA-rich 103-bp stretch of the sorghum vp1 promoter located about 700 nt upstream of the startpoint and miniature inverted transposable elements (MITEs) interspersed within the sorghum seed-specific kafirin cluster. This sorghum MITE-like element displays considerable homology (68%) to the TATA-less promoter from the sorghum NADP-malate dehydrogenase gene and lesser similarity to the Tourist, Pilgrim and Batuta MITEs previously identified within the promoter from the maize Abp1 (auxin-binding protein) gene.

Indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies for the detection of leukocytospermia: comparison with peroxidase staining

The presence of increased number of leukocytes in semen is indicative of inflammation in the male genital tract. Inflammatory processes at this level may lead to marked impairment of sperm function, and finally to a reduction in their fertilizing capability. An immunocytological technique for the detection of seminal leukocytes was evaluated in this study. As part of the standardization technique, different fixation methods were tested to ascertain whether samples could be stored and examined later. It was found that fixation with cold acetone at freezing temperatures retained immunoreactivity until day 11 of storage. All other methods showed a significant loss of immunoreactivity, from as little as day 2 of storage. In 46 specimens with elevated numbers of round cells, number of peroxidase-positive cells and number and type of leukocytes were evaluated by means of indirect immunofluorescence. Determination of peroxidase-positive cells to detect leukocytospermia, the standard procedure recommended by the WHO, was compared with the indirect immunofluorescence technique using monoclonal antibodies. While 19 of 46 patients showed high numbers of leukocytes in the ejaculate, as determined by the immunocytological method, only 9 of these were identified to be leukocytospermic, according to the WHO (standard) procedure. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01) and indicates that the standard method of detection of seminal leukocytes may be inaccurate.

[Bronchoscopies in neonatal intensive care units: safety and efficiency]

The aim of our study is to asses the risks and complications in bronchoscopies at Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Between 1991 and 1999, we performed 142 bronchoscopies at the NICU. The mean age was 1.6 +/- 1.4 months (2 days-6 months) and mean weight was 2.5 +/- 1 kg (530 g-4.7 kg). We analysed the complications, arterial oxygen saturation and inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) during bronchoscopy and we compared them related to weight, type of anesthesia and type of bronchoscope used. Mean basal saturation was 92 +/- 8.9% and end saturation was 92.8 +/- 10%. The basal FiO2 was 0.5 +/- 0.3 (0.21-1). There were more complications in patients weighting less than 1500 g and in those procedures made with rigid bronchoscopy (p < 0.05). There were no differences according to the anesthesia. Children who weight fewer than 1500 g and those who underwent rigid bronchoscopy suffered a descent in arterial oxygen saturation and needed higher FiO2 (p < 0.05). Bronchoscopy is a very useful technique and it is well tolerated in neonatal patients. We conclude that flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy is safer than the rigid bronchoscopy, specially in children fewer under 1500 g.

[Respiratory deadspace and compliance measurements in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia]

The mortality rate of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains high, despite clinical improvements. Many attempts have been made to find accurate and reliable predictors of outcome. Deadspace (Vd/Vt) and dynamic compliance (DC) measured by single breath CO2 analysis may be useful to evaluate pulmonary function and perfusion. In the present study we analyse both parameters in patients with CDH. Nine patients with CDH were included for Vd/Vt and DC study. Measurements of arterial blood gases (pH, PO2, pCO2) were obtained, oxygenation index and alveolo-arterial difference calculated at diagnosis, preoperatively and postoperatively. Vd/Vt and DC were measured at the same moments by analysis of the CO2 espirogram. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher exact test, ANOVA and Mann Whitney and Chi-square. The Vd/Vt was significant lower for the group of patients who survived (0.39 +/- 0.07 vs 0.64 +/- 0.14, p = 0.038). DC was significantly higher in the survivors group (1.39 +/- 0.30 vs 0.5 +/- 0.07, p = 0.011). The analysis of the evolutive Vd/Vt and DC (initial and preoperative) showed significant differences within both groups. Respiratory deadspace can be easily quantified in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia providing an important insight regarding the efficiency of the airway-alveolus and its relationship to pulmonary blood flow. Vd/Vt and DC measurement constitute a reliable method to predict outcome in patients with CDH.

Application of a factorial design to the study of specific parameters of a Carbopol ETD 2020 gel. Part I. Viscoelastic parameters

This work studies the application of a 2(3) factorial design to a cosmetic gel with the aim of simplifying the analysis of the influence of the concentration of Carbopol ETD 2020 (cb), of ethanol (et) and of glycerin (gl) on the viscoelastic parameters: equilibrium modulus (Gn), critical molecular weight (Mc), degree of structuring (logG'/lognu) and viscous modulus (G"). We have obtained high linear polynomial correlations among the components and the response factors determined. The results obtained evidence the usefulness of this type of technique in detecting interactions among the components that would be difficult to foresee otherwise. Mc, logG'/lognu and G" depend on the interaction cb-et. Gn depends on the interaction of cb-et-gl. That is, an increase in gl can increase or decrease the elasticity (Gn) of the gels, depending on the concentrations of cb and et.

Waiting-time statistics of self-organized-criticality systems

It is argued that a system governed by self-organized-criticality (SOC) dynamics can lack Poisson waiting-time statistics not only when the experimental resolution lies within the self-similar scale range but also if the system is slowly driven in a correlated way. This result thus suggests that waiting time statistics cannot be used as a necessary test for SOC behavior in real physical systems.

Mechanical vs intrinsic components in the improvement of brachial arterial compliance. Comparison of the effects of atenolol versus ramipril in hypertensive patients

The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical and intrinsic effects of an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, vs a beta-blocker, on brachial arterial compliance. In a double blind study, 34 essential hypertensive patients were treated for 3 months with either ramipril 2.5-5.0 mg daily (n = 17, age 57 +/- 7 y, 11 males) or atenolol 50-100 mg daily (n = 17, age 53 +/- 8 y, 11 males). Blood pressure (BP), brachial artery diameter (D), brachial-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV) and effective compliance (Ceff), were measured before and at the end of the study. Isobaric evaluation (Ciso) was performed in the entire population studied at an average mean BP of 110 mmHg. Ramipril significantly reduced BP from 155 +/- 16/94 +/- 6 mmHg to 140 +/- 15/85 +/- 7 mmHg (p < 0.001) without affecting heart rate (HR; 74 +/- 10 vs. 75 +/- 12 bpm). In addition, it significantly improved both PWV (18%; p < 0.001) and arterial compliance (45%; p < 0.001), from which 35% was related to a pressure independent effect (p < 0.01). Atenolol also induced a reduction in both BP (159 +/- 17/96 +/- 10 to 133 +/- 13/81 +/- 8 mmHg; p < 0.001) and HR (76 +/- 10 to 57 +/- 7 bpm; p < 0.001). In a similar way, PWV (11%; p < 0.05) and Ceff (30%; p < 0.05) were significantly improved without significant change in Ciso. This suggests that blood pressure reduction was responsible for compliance improvement. In conclusion, it is suggested that atenolol induces only hemodynamic changes, mediated mainly by BP reduction. In contrast, the improved brachial buffering function observed after ramipril involves not only hemodynamic changes, but also changes mediated by other mechanisms, such as modification of wall structures.

Laparoscopic repair of Bochdalek's hernia with gastric volvulus

Bochdalek's hernia is the most common congenital diaphragmatic hernia in newborns, but it is an uncommon clinical feature in adults. In most cases, there are no symptoms or only minor gastrointestinal problems. Rarely, it may manifest as an acute abdomen due to viscus strangulation, requiring emergency surgery. We report the case of a 52-year-old man with herniation of the colon and a volvulated stomach through a Bochdalek's hernia. The patient was operated on via a laparoscopic approach and had an uneventful recovery. We recommend the laparoscopic approach as an alternative to open surgery in cases of noncomplicated Bochdalek's hernia.

Uncoupling protein-3 mRNA up-regulation in C2C12 myotubes after etomoxir treatment

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial membrane proton transporters that uncouple respiration from oxidative phosphorylation by dissipating the proton gradient across the membrane. Treatment of C2C12 myotubes for 24 h with 40 microM etomoxir, an irreversible inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT-I), up-regulated uncoupling protein 3 (UCP-3) mRNA levels (2-fold induction), whereas UCP-2 mRNA levels were not modified. Etomoxir treatment also caused a 2.5-fold induction in M-CPT-I (muscle-type CPT-I) mRNA levels. In contrast, other well-known peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) target genes, such as acyl-CoA oxidase and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, were not affected, suggesting that this transcription factor was not involved in the effects of etomoxir. Since it has been reported that CPT-I inhibition by etomoxir leads to a further increase in ceramide synthesis, we test the possibility that ceramides were involved in the changes reported. Similarly to etomoxir, addition of 20 microM C(2)-ceramide to C2C12 myotubes for 3, 6 and 9 h resulted in increased UCP-3 and M-CPT-I mRNA levels. These results indicate that the effects on UCP-3 mRNA levels could be mediated by increased ceramide synthesis.

[Effects of proteolytic enzymes and sexual abstinence on alpha glucosidase biochemical quantification in human seminal plasma]

BACKGROUND

alpha-glucosidase is found in human seminal plasma as an acid form, located in accessory glands, and as a neutral form secreted almost exclusively by the epididymis. Quantification of alpha-glucosidase activity is a marker of the secretory function of the epididymis and indemnity of the sperm transport pathway.

AIM

To obtain reference values for alpha-glucosidase in normal samples of seminal plasma, to evaluate its behavior in serial samples and to determine the effect of proteolytic enzymes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty donors, with normal semen analysis according to the criteria of the World Health Organization, were evaluated. For the study with alpha-quimotrypsin, 0.1 to 10 mg/ml of the enzyme was added to the seminal plasma from a group of donors. alpha-glucosidase was also measured in semen obtained from nine patients at different time intervals.

RESULTS

Normal alpha-glucosidase values ranged from 14.52 to 25.69 microU/ml. Concentrations up to 10 mg/ml of alpha-quimotrypsin (10 times of that usually used in the liquefaction of the semen) did not alter the quantification of alpha-glucosidase. Serial determinations revealed oscillations in their magnitude, which stayed in each patient's characteristic range. However a subgroup presented a marked reduction of the activity of alpha-glucosidase as the abstinence diminished (40%).

CONCLUSIONS

Evaluation of alpha-glucosidase in seminal plasma gives reliable information of the secretor state of the epididymis and especially replaces invasive methods used to evaluate the indemnity of the spermatic transport from the epididymis to the anterior urethra.

The metabolic syndrome and related cardiovascular risk

The metabolic syndrome is a complex association of several risk factors including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and essential hypertension. Insulin resistance has been associated with sympathetic activation and endothelial dysfunction, which are the main mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension and its related cardiovascular risk. According to the Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee, and guidelines of the World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension, the presence of multiple risk markers suggests that both hypertension and risk factors should be aggressively managed in order to obtain a better outcome. Primary prevention of obesity at different levels--individual, familial, and social-- starting early in childhood has proven to be cost effective, and will be mandatory to reduce the world epidemic of obesity and its severe consequences.

[Physical symptoms and emotional disorders in patient on a periodic hemodialysis program]

OBJECTIVES

To establish the frequency and severity of somatic symptoms and emotional distress (anxiety and/or depression) among our chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients and to study the relationship between them as well as their influence on the perceived health status.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients who had been on CHD for a minimum of three months were eligible for the study. Eight of them were excluded: six because they were unable to answer the questionnaires and two because they refused to participate. The 58 remaining patients were the subject of our study (median age 68.5 years; median duration of HD 29.5 months). Diverse sociodemographic and clinical data were recorded. The patients answered the following questionnaires: 1) The "physical symptoms" dimension of the Kidney Disease Questionnaire; 2) A measure of anxiety (STAI); 3) A measure of depression (Beck Depression Inventory and Cognitive Depression Index); and 4) The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP).

RESULTS

The most frequent and severe symptoms were tiredness, itching, thirst, bone and joint pain and sleep disturbance. The severity of the symptoms was positively associated with female sex, and the presence of clinically relevant degrees of anxiety and/or depression. A quarter of the patients were anxious and almost half of them suffered from depression. Emotional disturbances were associated with the severity of somatic symptoms and comorbidity. Only anxiety and depression were significantly associated with the global NHP score; they explained 47% of its variance. A score of 50 or more in the "Emotional Reactions" dimensions with the NHP detected 69% of the patients with anxiety and 81% of those with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Somatic symptoms are common among patients on CHD and they appear to be associated with emotional distress (anxiety and depression) that influences significantly the perceived health status. Measuring the perceived health status by means of generic and specific questionnaires, may help to establish the diagnosis of these problems.

Inhibition of gene expression in Entamoeba histolytica with antisense peptide nucleic acid oligomers

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) may be a potent tool for gene function studies in medically important parasitic organisms, especially those that have not before been accessible to molecular genetic knockout approaches. One such organism is Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of amebiasis, which infects about 500 million people and is the cause of clinical disease in over 40 million each year, mainly in the tropical and subtropical world. We used PNA antisense oligomers to inhibit expression of an episomally expressed gene (neomycin phosphorotransferase, NPT) and a chromosomal gene (EhErd2, a homolog of Erd2, a marker of the Golgi system in eukaryotic cells) in axenically cultured trophozoites of E. histolytica. Measurement of NPT enzyme activity and EhErd2 protein levels, as well as measurement of cellular proliferation, revealed specific decreases in expression of the target genes, and concomitant inhibition of cell growth, in trophozoites treated with micromolar concentrations of unmodified antisense PNA oligomers.

Comparative protein structure modeling of genes and genomes

Comparative modeling predicts the three-dimensional structure of a given protein sequence (target) based primarily on its alignment to one or more proteins of known structure (templates). The prediction process consists of fold assignment, target-template alignment, model building, and model evaluation. The number of protein sequences that can be modeled and the accuracy of the predictions are increasing steadily because of the growth in the number of known protein structures and because of the improvements in the modeling software. Further advances are necessary in recognizing weak sequence-structure similarities, aligning sequences with structures, modeling of rigid body shifts, distortions, loops and side chains, as well as detecting errors in a model. Despite these problems, it is currently possible to model with useful accuracy significant parts of approximately one third of all known protein sequences. The use of individual comparative models in biology is already rewarding and increasingly widespread. A major new challenge for comparative modeling is the integration of it with the torrents of data from genome sequencing projects as well as from functional and structural genomics. In particular, there is a need to develop an automated, rapid, robust, sensitive, and accurate comparative modeling pipeline applicable to whole genomes. Such large-scale modeling is likely to encourage new kinds of applications for the many resulting models, based on their large number and completeness at the level of the family, organism, or functional network.

Protein structure modeling for structural genomics

The shapes of most protein sequences will be modeled based on their similarity to experimentally determined protein structures. The current role, limitations, challenges and prospects for protein structure modeling (using information about genes and genomes) are discussed in the context of structural genomics.

[Nutritional status, comorbidity, and inflammation in hemodialysis]

Low y serum albumin and high C-reactive protein (CRP) have been shown to be significant predictors of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Although hypoalbuminemia has been attributed to malnutrition, it has recently been recognized evidence of inflammation that predicts serum albumin concentration in dialysis patients.

AIM

To establish, in our HD patients, the factors associated with malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia and elevated levels of C-reactive protein to determine its influence in the incidence and cause of death during a one year follow-up period.

METHODS

A cross sectional study was performed in 64 patients (35 males, 13% diabetics; mean age 64 +/- 12), who had beep on HD for 64 +/- 58 months. We assessed nutritional status by anthropometric and biochemical parameters and estimated protein and calorie intake by diet recall. The dialysis dose was measure by KT/V normalized for actual and ideal body weight (BW). Comorbidity (total and cardiovascular) were measured using a modified M. Charlson index. CRP was used as a marker of inflammation. During a one year follow-up period we determined the incidence and cause of death.

RESULTS

According to Bilbrey index only seven patients (11%) were well nourished. The variables associated with malnutrition were civil status (not married) and dialysis dose estimated by KT/V normalized to ideal BW. Serum albumin (mean 4.1 +/- 0.3 g/dl) was associated with creatinine, comorbidity age and infection. 37.5% of the patients had CRP > 1 mg/dl and they had more cardiovascular comorbidity and lower serum albumin, and they used higher doses of erythropoietin (table III). Patients using modified cellulosic membranes had higher levels of CRP. Multivariate analysis showed that high global comorbidity, low serum cholesterol, and high level of CRP and hematocrit predicted death. The principal cause of mortality was infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Malnutrition is a common problem in HD patients. Low dialysis dose is associated with malnutrition in some patients. We propose to normalize urea clearances to ideal body weight. Inflammatory activity is frequent in HD, probably as a result of intermittent activation of the acute phase response during the dialysis procedure. Low serum albumin in HD patients is principally associated with infection/inflammation but not with malnutrition. CRP is a sensitive marker of inflammation and an power predictor of mortality in HD patients.

Dual role for the RNA-binding domain of Xenopus laevis SLBP1 in histone pre-mRNA processing

The replication-dependent histone mRNAs end in a conserved 26-nt sequence that forms a stem-loop structure. This sequence is required for histone pre-mRNA processing and plays a role in multiple aspects of histone mRNA metabolism. Two proteins that bind the 3' end of histone mRNA are found in Xenopus oocytes. xSLBP1 is found in the nucleus, where it functions in histone pre-mRNA processing, and in the cytoplasm, where it may control histone mRNA translation and stability. xSLBP2 is a cytoplasmic protein, inactive in histone pre-mRNA processing, whose expression is restricted to oogenesis and early development. These proteins are similar only in their RNA-binding domains (RBD). A chimeric protein (1-2-1) in which the RBD of xSLBP1 has been replaced with the RBD of xSLBP2 binds the stem-loop with an affinity similar to the original protein. The 1-2-1 protein efficiently localizes to the nucleus of the frog oocyte, but is not active in processing of histone pre-mRNA in vivo. This protein does not support processing in a nuclear extract, but inhibits processing by competing with the active SLBP by binding to the substrate. The 1-2-1 protein also inhibits processing of synthetic histone pre-mRNA injected into frog oocytes, but has no effect on processing of histone pre-mRNA transcribed from an injected histone gene. This result suggests that sequences in the RBD of xSLBP1 give it preferential access to histone pre-mRNA transcribed in vivo.

[Obstetric trauma. A current problem?]

Advances in obstetric practice have decreased birth traumas in the last years, although they are still an important chapter in neonatal age. Between 1993-1998 a total of 21,375 stillborns were registered with a total of 309 birth injuries in 303 neonates (1.44%). The diagnoses were: 2 liver subcapsular hematomas, 105 cephalohematomas, 16 parietal fractures, 11 subdural hemorrhages, 107 clavicular fractures, 10 miscellaneous fractures, 8 soft tissue injuries, 25 facial nerve injuries and 25 braquial palsy. About relation between type of labor and birth trauma was found that clavicular fracture and cephalic vaginal delivery were associated in 50% of the cases, cephalohematoma and forceps in 51%, braquial palsy and vaginal delivery in 44% and forceps in 36%. High weight at birth was another risk factor for entities such as clavicular fracture and braquial palsy. We conclude that birth trauma is a pathology with a relevant incidence and their epidemiology factor had to be known.