Bone mineral density in diabetes and impaired fasting glucose.

We report that compared with normoglycaemia, post-menopausal women (non-obese and obese) with diabetes had higher lumbar spine bone mineral density (LSBMD). Femoral neck bone mineral density (FNBMD) was higher in obese post-menopausal women with diabetes. Only non-obese post-menopausal women with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) had a higher LSBMD than normoglycaemia. No other associations with IFG were observed. INTRODUCTION: Individuals with diabetes have a higher or normal bone mineral density (BMD) compared with those without diabetes. However, paradoxically, they also have a higher fracture risk. It is not clear whether those with IFG also have altered BMD. This study aimed to determine whether individuals with IFG have elevated or normal BMD. METHODS: Women (n = 858) and men (n = 970) (aged 20-80 years) from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study were included. IFG was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 5.5-6.9 mmol/L and diabetes as FPG ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, use of antihyperglycaemic medication and/or self-report. Using multivariable linear regression, the relationships between glycaemia and BMD at the femoral neck and lumbar spine were examined, and adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), and other variables. In women, two interaction terms were identified: menopause × glycaemia and BMI × glycaemia, and thus, the analyses were stratified by menopause and obesity status (BMI cut point ≥ 30 kg/m2). RESULTS: There were no associations between glycaemic status and BMD for pre-menopausal women. For non-obese post-menopausal women, there was no association between FNBMD and glycaemic status, but women with IFG or diabetes had higher LSBMD than those with normoglycaemia (7.1% and 9.7%, respectively, both p < 0.01). Obese post-menopausal women with diabetes had a higher FNBMD (8.8%, p = 0.008) and LSBMD (12.2%, p < 0.001), but those with IFG were not different from the normoglycaemia group. There were no associations detected between glycaemic status and BMD in men. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we report that compared with normoglycaemia, post-menopausal women (non-obese and obese) with diabetes had higher LSBMD. FNBMD was higher in obese post-menopausal women with diabetes. Only non-obese post-menopausal women with IFG had a higher LSBMD than normoglycaemia. No other associations with IFG were observed.

[Comparative controlled study on the use of benznidazole, nifurtimox and placebo, in the chronic form of Chagas' disease, in a field area with interrupted transmission. I. Preliminary evaluation]. / Estudo comparativo controloado com emprego de benznidazole, nifurtimox e placebo, na forma crônica da doença de Chagas; em uma área de campo com transmissão interrompida. I. Avalição preliminar.

A controlled clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and tolerance of nifurtimox and benznidazole in patients with chronic Chagas' disease. All patients had immunofluorescence and complement fixation reactions positives for T. cruzi antibodies and at least two xenodiagnoses positives in three performed before treatment, and they were submitted to clinical examinations, ECG and X-ray of the heart and esophagus. Of 77 patients studied, 27 were treated with nifurtimox and 26 with benznidazole in the dosage of 5 m/kg/day for 30 consecutive days, and 24 received a placebo in tablets similar to benznidazole. From the 77 patients, 64 (83.1%) accomplished the treatment: 23 (88.4%) with benznidazole, 19 (70.3%) with nifurtimox and 22 (91.6%) with placebo. The patients were evaluated, clinically, serologically and parasitologically (six xenodiagnoses within one year after treatment). The benznidazole group showed only 1.8% of positive xenodiagnoses post-treatment, the nifurtimox 9.6% and the placebo 34.3%. All serologic reactions continued positive and there were no clinical, ECG or X-ray changes one year after treatment.

Type II callus production and plant regeneration in tropical maize genotypes.

A total of 113 maize inbreds adapted to tropical conditions were evaluated for their tissue culture response. Additionally, four media combinations of 15 or 30 µM dicamba with or without 88 µM AgNO3 were used to study the effect of dicamba and AgNO3 on type II callus production and plant regeneration from 42 of the inbred lines. Inbreds 48, 389 and 1345 of the populations BR 105, BR 112, and Catete, respectively, showed a high capacity for type II callus production and plant regeneration. The production of type II calli increased significantly when the concentration of dicamba was changed from 15 to 30 µM and when AgNO3 was added to the medium. A synergistic effect between 88 µM AgNO3 and 30 µM dicamba (CM-30Ag medium) was observed, leading to additional production of type II callus. Medium CM-30Ag allowed the best tissue culture performance and plant regeneration capacity.

Evaluation of the xenodiagnosis of chronic Chagas patients infected ten years or over in an area where transmission has been interrupted--Iguatama and Pains, west Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

To evaluate the results of xenodiagnosis in chronic Chagas patients infected for ten years or over in an area where transmission has been stemmed as well as the performance of these tests applied one or more times to determine the presence of the parasite in serum-positive patients for Trypanosoma cruzi infection, 570 xenodiagnosis were performed in 246 patients by exposing each patient to 40 Triatoma infestans nymphs of 3rd/4th stage once, twice or three times, at 30 days intervals. The 570 xenodiagnosis showed overall positive results in 50.7% with a peak 78% in patients under 20 years of age, and 60.5% in those over 60. Of the 158 patients who underwent three xenodiagnosis, 51 (32.3%) had three positive tests, 48 (30.3%) had all negative results, and the remainder had alternating positive and negative findings. There was no difference in number of positive results between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tests; however, the 1st and 2nd trials added up to 53.2% and the sum total of all three trials was 57.7%.

[Morbidity in Chagas' disease. IV. Longitudinal study of 10 years in Pains and Iguatama, Minas Gerais, Brazil]. / Morbidade da doenca de Chagas. IV. Estudo longitudinal de dez anos emPains e Iguatama, Minas Gerais, Brasil.

An evolutive study of the "case-control" type was carried out in an endemic area of Chagas' disease in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, using two cross-section evaluations with an interval of ten years between them (1974-1984). Patients were paired for sex and age. In the first cross-section study 264 pairs one with a positive serology and the other with a negative serology for T. cruzi antibodies were included. In the second evaluation, ten years later, 235 patients among those with previous positive serology and 216 with negative serology were located, but only 110 pairs could be recomposed and reexamined (clinical examination, ECG and Rx of the heart and esophagus). The incidence of chagasic cardiopathy in the cases with positive serology but previously assymptomatic was 38.3% during the ten year period. On the other hand there was a deterioration in 24% of the patients with chagasic cardiopathy since the first examination. Considering all clinical forms of the disease in 34.5% of the patients the clinical situation deteriorated, in 57.3% there was no change and in 8.2% the situation improved. The general mortality in the period was 23% in the chagasic group and 10.6% in the control group, but the lethality by cardiopathy was 17% in chagasic group and only 23.3% in the control group. The mortality was twice as high in males than in females, mainly in the age group from 30 to 59 years.