Role of colostrum in gastrointestinal infections.

Colostrum is breast milk produced after the birth of the newborn and lasts for 2-4 days. Colostrum is very important part of breast milk and lays down the immune system and confers growth factors and other protective factors for the young ones in mammals. This is the source of passive immunity transferred to the baby from the mother. The biological value of bovine colostrum in present day medical practice is documented in clinical trials and large databases containing case reports and anecdotal findings. The main actions include an antibacterial effect and modulation of immune response with the ability to neutralize lipopolysaccharides arising from gram negative bacterial pathogens. It has been found to be effective in infantile hemorrhagic diarrheas, other diarrheas and reduces the likelihood of disease progressing to hemolytic uremic syndrome. It has also been tested in H. pylori infection and diarrhea in immunodeficiency. Side effects of clinical relevance are limited to possible intolerance due to lactose and sensitivity to milk proteins.

Aspectos fisiopatológicos e estruturais da vasculopatia pulmonar / Structure and pathophysiology of pulmonary vascular disease

A patogenia da doença vascular pulmonar é multifatorial, sendo o produto da interação de aspectos genéticos, celulares e moleculares, que são individuais , com fatores externos de risco, como a estímulos injuriantes diversos. O remodelamento da circulação pulmonar compreende alterações nas células das tres túnicas arteriais(íntima, média e adventícia), que culminam com proliferação celular e oclusão da luz vascular. Outros elementos participam do processo, como células inflamatórias e plaquetas, que liberam substâncias promotoras de proliferação celular e com ação no tônus vascular. As células endoteliais têm papel-chave no processo patogenético, apresentando disfunção que interfere na homeostase vascular. A trombose é também um fator importante na evolução das lesões morfológicas. Dentre as substâncias que influênciam o remodelamento, muitas são produzidas pelas próprias células da parede(como endotelina, prostaciclinas, etc).) e outras têm receptores nos diferentes tipos celulares. Contrapõe-se à proliferação celular induzida por fatores de crescimento (fator de crescimento e fator de crescimento derivado das plaquetas - PDGF e fator de crescimento do endotelio vascular - VEGF) e facilitada por enzimas que degradam a matriz extracelular, o mecanismo de apoptose ou a morte celular programada.

Therapeutic potentials of bovine colostrums.

Colostrum is the first milk produced by mammals for their young ones. This transfers the passive immunity gained by the mother to the baby. The bovine colostrum (BC) can be obtained in large quantity and has properties similar to human colostrum. It has been used for various disorders of the body. It has properties to stimulate immune system, contains growth factors and many bioactive substances needed for the body to combat with wear and tear. The BC has been used for various gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory tract infection, rheumatoid arthritis, healing injured tissues of body etc. There are not much double blind placebo-controlled trials to prove its efficacy, though a lot of experience about its good effects in various disorders is available in the literature. The dosage and duration of therapy need to be worked up. The BC has potential to treat as well to prevent certain diseases in the body. In future this will prove to be a very useful product to treat and control diseases in a natural way.

Health factors in colostrum.

Colostrum is a breast milk produced after the birth of the newborn and lasts for 2-4 days. Colostrum is very important part of breast milk and lays down the immune system and confers growth factors and other protective factors for the young ones in mammals. This is the source of passive immunity achieved by the mother and is transferred to the baby. This is the major source of secretory IgA and gives protection against gastrointestinal infections. In view of so many health factors through colostrum, the use of colostrum has been extended to so many health problems of mankind. Human and bovine colostrums have many similarities barring that bovine colostrum can be obtained in large quantity, so bovine colostrum has been used in various disorders in human beings. This is the nature's gift that is for the young ones to grow as well as for the treatment of many health problems in older age group.

Patrones de crecimiento en niños menores de 11 años edad con síndrome de Down / Growth patterns in children under 11 years old with Down syndrome

Para evaluar el patrón de crecimiento en niños con Síndrome de Down, se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, en una muestra de 140 varones y 100 hembras menores de 11 años, realizándose en ellos 821 mediciones antropométricas. El 78.6% pertenecía a los estratos III y IV. Se tomaron las medidas de peso, talla, circunferencia cefálica, se calculó el índice de masa corporal (IMC), determinándose los percentiles para cada una; se comparó el percentil 50 con los valores reportados por Cronk en niños con Síndrome de Down y por Fundacredesa en la población venezolana. En el grupo estudiado no se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa al compararlos con el grupo de Cronk, en ninguna de las variables antropométricas. El p50 del peso de los varones estudiados se ubica en general por debajo del p50 de Fundacredesa (-1DE), en las hembras osciló entre +1DE y -2DE según su edad. El IMC del grupo estudio fue mayor al de Fundacredesa, siendo la diferencia significativa en los niños de 3-10 años ambos sexos. El p50 de la talla fue menor al de Fundacredesa en un rango entre -1DE a -2DE. El p50 de la circunferencia cefálica nacional es superior al de la muestra en todas las edades y ambos sexos, siendo la diferencia significativa. Con este estudio se confirma la importancia de evaluar a los niños con Síndrome de Down con valores de referencia basados en una población que los represente.

Factores de crecimiento y oncogenes en adenocarcinomas mamarios inducidos por acetato de medroxyprogesterona en ratones BALB/c / Growth hormones and oncogenes in mammary adenocarcinomas induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate in BALB/c mice

We have studied the involvement of growth factors (GF), their receptors (GF-R) and oncogenes in modulating tumor growth in the medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA)-induced mammary tumor model in BALB/c mice. We demonstrated the presence of both ligands of the insulin-like growth factor family (IGF-I, IGF-II) and the two types of receptors (IGF-RI, IGF-RII). MPA upregulated IGF-II mRNA and protein levels in hormone-dependent lines (MPA-D). The progression to a hormone-independent phenotype was accompanied by a high constitutive expression of IGF-II and by a significant decrease in IGF-IIR number. An antisense strategy used to evaluate the role of IGF in the MPA-induced growth of epithelial MPA-D cells showed that IGF mediate progestin-induced mammary tumor growth by autocrine/intracrine pathways. We also studied the role of heregulins (HRG), the recently identified ligands for the c-erbB3 and c-erbB4 oncogenes. HRG mRNA expression was restricted to tumors of ductal origin. MPA induced an in vivo up-regulation of HRG expression. Finally, we also found that MPA may be exerting its proliferative effect on MPA-D lines by inhibiting the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1, (TGF-beta 1) and the lack of expression of TGF-beta 1 in hormone-independent tumors may be related to the acquisition of autonomous growth.

Sustentacular cells of phaeochromocytoma express positivity for gastrin and bombesin

To assess the presence of certain growth factors in phaeochromocytoma. Materials and Serial sections at 5[micro] thickness were made from paraffin embedded blocks of surgical specimens of ten cases of human phaeochromocytoma. Antibodies to gastrin, bombesin or its C-terminal precursor, as well as antibodies to S-100 protein were applied utilizing avidin-biotin peroxidase complex method. Sustentacular cells as identified by S-100 protein stained positively with antibodies to Gastrin and Bombesin. Gastrin and Bombesin, which are growth factors, were demonstrated in sustentacular cells of phaeochromocytoma. This finding is in agreement with recent studies which showed that folliculo-stellate cells of the pituitary are capable of producing active growth factors that can stimulate tumor growth

Citoquinas, factores de crecimiento y enfermedad ósea metabólica / Cytokines, growth factors and metabolic bone disease

Cytokines are polypeptides that bind to membrane receptors and may act in an endocrine, paracrine or autocrine way. Several cytokines and growth factors may be produced by bone cells, stored in the matrix or act on them. Osteoclast derive from the bone marrow stem cell and, as monocytes, belong to the family of tissue macrophages. Their specific function is bone resorption. Interleukin 1, 6 and 11, transforming growth factor and tumor necrosis factor stimulate osteoclast mediated bone resorption. Interleukin 1 is the most potent bone resorption agent and seems to be identical to osteoclast activation factor, identified in multiple myeloma. The role of interleukin 1, 6 and 11 and tumor necrosis factors in postmenopausal osteoporosis triggered by the fall in estrogen levels, has not been well defined yet. Cytokines that increase bone formation are insulin like growth factors I and II, transforming growth factor, platelet derived growth factor and bone morphogenic proteins. Probably, tumor necrosis factor and interferon-ç have a depressor effect on bone formation. Cytokines and growth factors, liberated from bone cells or from the matrix during osteoclastic work, could be the signals responsible for coupling bone formation and resorption