Aspergilose invasiva em pacientes imunodeprimidos: comparação entre as provas de galactomanana, 1,3 betaD-glucana, dados tomográficos e desfecho clínico / Performance of galactomannan and 1,3 beta-glucan enzyme assays in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage and comparison with computer tomography scan for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised hosts

A aspergilose invasiva (AI) é a infecção por fungos filamentosos mais comum em pacientes imunodeprimidos, especialmente em transplantes de células tronco hematopoiético e neoplasias hematológicas. Objetivo: Geral: Estabelecer a comparação entre a dosagem de Galactomanana (GM), 1,3betaD-glucana (BDG) e dados tomográficos no diagnóstico da AI bem como seu papel no desfecho clínico. Específicos: 1. Verificar a sensibilidade e especificidade dos ensaios de Galactomanana e de 1,3betaD-glucana no soro e lavado broncoalveolar. 2. Comparar os resultados da galatomanana e 1,3betaD-glucana com os dados de imagem em pacientes com suspeita de AI. 3. Verificar a relação entre a evolução dos níveis de GM e desfecho clínico (óbito e sobrevida). Casuística, Materiais e Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo tipo coorte prospectiva, incluindo 398 sujeitos das diversas enfermarias de pacientes imunodeprimidos do HCFMUSP, sendo incluídos dois grupos de pacientes: 202(51%) AI e 198(49%) controles. Resultados: Dos casos, 18 (8,8%) tinham aspergilose provada, 28 (13,7%) provável e 158 possível (77,5%), de acordo a classificação de 2002 EORTC/MSG (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer / Mycoses Study Group). Os sujeitos submetidos ao TCTH eram 42,7%, com neoplasias hematológicas 37%, TOS 9% e outras doenças 11,3%. Os fatores de risco associados ao desenvolvimento da AI foram neutropenia, monocitopenia, uso de corticóide, presença de doença pelo citomegalovírus e rejeição ou doença do enxerto contra o hospedeiro. O fator de risco associado à evolução para o óbito foi a presença de AI. Foram observados bons desempenhos para a GM tanto no soro como no LBA com LR menores que os registrados na literatura. O melhor desempenho da GM no soro para aspergilose+provável ocorreu com LR de 0,35 com sensibilidade-S, especificidade-E, valor preditivo positivo- VPP), valor preditivo negativo-VPN) e área sob a curva-ASC de 54,4%, 73,4%, 50,8%, 76,2% e 0,64, sendo os valores superiores...

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) has become the leading infectious cause of death in immunocompromised hosts, particularly in subjects under SCTH and hematologic neoplasias. Objectives: General: To compare the performance of GM and BG tests in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and computer tomography (CT) scans in the diagnosis of IA in immunocompromised hosts as well as their role in the patient outcome. Specific: 1. To analyse the sensitivity and specificity of Galactomannan and 1,3 betaD-glucan assays in the serum and bronchoalveolar lavage. 2. To compare the results of Galactomannan and 1,3betaD-glucan assays with CT scans in patients with invasive aspergilosis. 3. To analyse the relationship between the evolution of galactomannan levels and clinical outcome (death or survival). Patients, Materials and Methods: From December 2008 to March 2013, a prospective cohort of 398 patients from several wards of immunocompromised patients of Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, University of São Paulo was included classified in two groups of patients: 202 (51%) with invasive aspergillosis (IA) and 198 (49%) control patients. Results: Considering 202 cases, 18(8.8%) were subjects with proven, 28(13.7%) with probable aspergillosis and 156(77.5%), with possible aspergillosis, according to 2002 EORTC/MSG (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group) criteria. The most common underlying disease were: HSCT (42.7%), hematologic malignancy (37%), SOT (9%), or other diseases (11.3%). The main risk factors associated with IA were neutropenia, monocytopenia, patients under corticosterois, presence of CMV disease, and rejection or graft versus host disease. The risk factor associated with death was the presence of invasive aspergillosis. Good performances for serum and BAL GM were registered with lower cutoffs in the present workin relationship to those found in the literature. The best cutoff for proven + probable...

Investigation and comparison of colon specificity of novel polymer khaya gum with guar gum

To investigate the colon specificity of novel natural polymer khaya gum and compare with guar gum. Release profile of tablets was carried out in presence and absence of rat cecal contents. The fast disintegrating core tablets of budesonide, were initially prepared by direct compression technique. Later, these tablets were coated with khaya gum or guar gum. After suitable pre compression and post compression evaluation, these tablets were further coated using Eudragit L-100 by dip coating technique. X-ray images were taken to investigate the movement, location and the integrity of the tablets in different parts of gastro intestinal tract in rabbits. The release profiles revealed that khaya gum or guar gum, when used as compression coating, protected the drug from being released in the upper parts of the gastro intestinal tract to some extent but the enteric coated formulations completely protected the drug from being released in the upper parts of the gastro intestinal tract, and released the drug in the colon by bacterial degradation of gums. It was found that both the polysaccharide polymers exhibited different release profiles in presence and absence of rat cecal contents. However, further enteric coat helped in targeting the drug to colon very effectively. Better dissolution models revealed the colon specificity of polysaccharides and alone can not be used either for targeting the drug to the colon or for sustaining or controlling the release of drug

Fibras na dieta: tendências atuais e benefícios à saúde na síndrome metabólica e no diabetes melito tipo 2: [revisão] / Dietary fibers: current trends and health benefits in the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: [review]

As fibras dietéticas parecem contribuir tanto na prevenção quanto no tratamento do diabetes melito tipo 2 (DMT2). Em estudos epidemiológicos a ingestão de fibras insolúveis, e não de fibras solúveis, tem sido inversamente associada à incidência do DMT2. Por outro lado, em estudos pós-prandiais, refeições contendo quantidades suficientes de β-glucano, psyllium, ou goma-guar diminuíram as respostas da insulina e da glicose, tanto em indivíduos saudáveis como em pacientes com DMT2. Dietas enriquecidas com quantidade suficiente de fibras solúveis também parecem melhorar o controle glicêmico de uma forma geral no DMT2. As fibras insolúveis têm pouco efeito sobre as respostas pós-prandiais de insulina e glicose. As fibras da dieta aumentam a saciedade. Em alguns estudos, as fibras solúveis têm se associado com um menor aumento de peso corporal ao longo do tempo. Evidências limitadas, a partir de estudos transversais, sugerem uma associação inversa entre o consumo de fibras dos cereais e de grãos integrais e a prevalência de síndrome metabólica. Apesar da escassez de dados sobre estudos de mais longo prazo que foquem especificamente em fibras dietéticas, seguir a recomendação atual de 25 g de fibras ao dia, a partir de uma dieta rica em grãos integrais, frutas e legumes, provavelmente diminuirá o risco para a obesidade, síndrome metabólica e DMT2.

Dietary fiber may contribute to both the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In epidemiological studies the intake of insoluble fiber, but not the intake of soluble fiber, has been inversely associated with the incidence of T2DM. In contrast, in postprandial studies, meals containing sufficiently quantities of β-glucan, psyllium, or guar gum have decreased insulin and glucose responses in both healthy individuals and patients with T2DM. Diets enriched sufficiently in soluble fiber may also improve overall glycemic control in T2DM. Insoluble fiber has little effect on postprandial insulin and glucose responses. Fiber increases satiety. In some studies, insoluble fiber has been associated with less weight gain over time. Limited cross-sectional evidence suggests an inverse relationship between intake of cereal fiber and whole-grains and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. Although long-term data from trials focusing on specifically dietary fiber are lacking, meeting current recommendations for a minimum fiber intake of 25 g/d based on a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and legumes will probably decrease the risk of obesity, the metabolic syndrome and T2DM.

Efeito terapêutico da fibra goma-guar parcialmente hidrolisada na constipação intestinal funcional em pacientes hospitalizados / Effect of partially hidrolized guar-gum in the treatment of functional constipation among hospitalized patients

Avaliação do impacto da fibra goma-guar parcialmente hidrolisada na constipação intestinal funcional em pacientes hospitalizados. Ensaio clínico com 64 adultos, randomizados para duas dietas: grupo 1 dieta laxante (± 30 g de fibras) e grupo 2 mesma dieta + 10 g de fibra goma-guar parcialmente hidrolisada, durante 15 dias. A dieta laxante ou acrescida da referida fibra reduziu em 78 por cento a constipação intestinal funcional, assim como sua adição não provocou efeito adicional na freqüência evacuatória, consistência fecal, uso de laxativos, embora tenha reduzido a sintomatologia gastrointestinal. Fibras devem ser utilizadas no tratamento da constipação intestinal funcional; entretanto, a suplementação com fibra goma-guar parcialmente hidrolisada precisa ser melhor investigada.

The effect of hydrolyzed partially guar-gum was evaluated in the treatment of functional constipation among hospitalized patients. Following a randomized blind controlled-trial 64 adults were allocated to two groups: one received daily high-fiber diet (@ 30 g) and the other similar diet plus 10 g of hydrolyzed partially guar-gum, during 15 days. Dietary fiber reduced functional constipation by 78.0 percent. Hydrolyzed partially guar-gum did not show any additional effect in defecation frequency, fecal consistence, need of laxative drug use, although a reduction in bowel complaints. Dietary fiber may be used in the treatment of functional constipation. However the therapeutic role of hydrolyzed partially guar-gum should be further investigated.

Heat or gamma irradiation sterilization affects the hypocholesterolemic effect of guar gum in axenic and heteroxenic rats

1. Twenty-two axenic (germfree) or thirty heteroxenic (axenic colonized with human flora) 2.5-3.5 months old female Fisher rats were fed for four weeks either a hypercholesterolemic (HYPER) diet or a HYPER diet containing 5 per cent guar gum (GG) sterilized by heat or by gamma irradiation. 2. Axenic rats fed the irradiated GG diet had higher cholesterolemia than their counterparts fed an autoclaved diet (4.50 vs 2.29 mmol/l), whereas the method of sterilization had no effect on plasma cholesterol in axenic HYPER or heteroxenic animals (7.35 vs 6.51 mg/dl). 3. The levels of hepatic esterified cholesterol were higher in heteroxenic animals fed the irradiated GG diet than in their counterparts fed the autoclaved GG diet (5.65 vs 3.57 mmol/g tissue). 4. The composition of volatile fatty acids in the cecal content of heteroxenic rats was dependent on the method of sterilization regardless of the presence of fiber: the levels of butyrate were 2.88 and 0.85 mumol/g for rats fed the autoclaved and irradiated diets, respectively. 5. Gamma irradiation abolished the cholesterol-lowering effect of guar gum, whereas sterilization by heat preserved this effect. 6. The hypocholesterolemic effect of guar was reduced by gamma irradiation sterilization and was probably mediated by qualitative changes in the intestinal microflora which interfered with bile acid absorption

Effective reduction of LDL cholesterol by indigenous plant product.

A herbal powder containing guar gum, methi, tundika and meshasringi was administered to 30 control and 30 type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus patients for a month. Total serum cholesterol and its fractions eg, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins and serum triglyceride were determined before and after the trial period. Total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterols were reduced significantly after the therapy. There were no significant changes in high density lipoproteins (HDL), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) or triglyceride levels. Side-effects eg, mild flatulence and looseness of bowel were noticed in less than 40% cases.