Use of von Frey filaments to assess nociceptive sensitization in the hornworm, Manduca sexta.

BACKGROUND: The hornworm Manduca sexta exhibits a defensive strike to noxious assaults, a response that is robust and is easily observed by experimenters. Von Frey filaments and methods typical for studying nociception in other animals were used to assess the strike response in M. sexta. NEW METHODS: A series of von Frey filaments was applied to the body wall in ascending order and the data generated were used to determine the strike threshold by (i) the up-and-down method, (ii) the first response method, and (iii) the simplified up-and-down order method (SUDO). The effect of a noxious pinch on strike threshold was assessed. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: To our knowledge none of these methods has been used on M. sexta previously, making the use of the up-and-down and SUDO methods the first in an invertebrate. The use of the first response method has been used in other invertebrates, and the method appears equally suited to M. sexta. RESULTS: All three methods were successful in monitoring the threshold sensitivity to touch, which was lowered (sensitized) by tissue damage induced with a pinch. Sensitization lasted 19h. CONCLUSIONS: All three methods of assessing nociception were successfully applied to quantify the defensive strike response in M. sexta, although the SUDO method required empirical assessment of which filament to start the test sequence with. The results revealed both short- and long-term sensitization. These methods should prove to be useful for quantifying sensitization in M. sexta.

[Comparative study of adverse events between a posterolateral and a direct lateral approach for uncemented primary hip arthroplasty in patients over 65 years of age with femoral neck fractures]. / Estudio comparativo de los eventos adversos entre el abordaje posterolateral y lateral directo para artroplastía primaria de cadera no cementada en pacientes mayores de 65 años con fracturas del cuello femoral.

INTRODUCTION: Femoral neck fractures represent an important chapter in the practice of Traumatology, due to their high incidence, mainly among patients over 65 years of age; they account for around 65% of surgeries in Traumatology. Early function of patients who sustained a femoral neck fracture is of the utmost importance, as survival decreases within the first 12 months. The purpose of this paper is to compare the intra- and postoperative course of patients who underwent primary hip surgery using Hardinge's direct lateral approach versus Moore's posterolateral approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 79 patients over 65 years of age with femur fractures were selected and divided into 2 groups according to the approach used. Hardinge's direct lateral approach was used in 32 patients and Moore's posterolateral approach in 47 patients, from March 2011 to April 2013. RESULTS: Considering the variables studied, a statistically significant difference (p < 0.005) was seen in the number of blood units transfused to patients in whom Hardinge's direct lateral approach was used. CONCLUSIONS: We agree with the literature in that there is a significant difference in the intra- and post-operative course of patients with femur neck fractures managed using Hardinge's direct lateral approach. A statistically significant difference was seen in the number of blood units transfused per patient, something that in our setting represents better resource utilization.

Effect of zinc replacement on lipids and lipoproteins in type 2-diabetic patients.

Abnormal zinc and lipid plasma levels occur more frequently in metabolically uncontrolled diabetic patients. These lipid alterations are key factors in the emergence of microvascular complications, which lead to death in those patients. Yet, zinc sulfate supplementation may be a therapeutical resource to recover some functioning and improve life span. This article reports the assessment of lipid profile from type 2-diabetes mellitus patients treated with hypoglycemic therapy drugs, who additionally presented zinc levels lower than average in Mexican reference. The patients received a 100 mg zinc sulfate treatment in a crossover double-blind design of clinically controlled study with starch as placebo. The diabetic patients had changes in their lipid profile after a 12-week zinc treatment as compared with placebo treatment. The 100 mg zinc sulfate treatment was well tolerated, significantly reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, and increased those corresponding to zinc as well as HDL cholesterol in the bloodstream. Thus, using this treatment the cardiovascular involvement is expected to decrease in the type 2-diabetes mellitus patients, especially those with myocardial infarction and stroke, which are the main death causes in Mexico.

[Perinatal morbidity and mortality in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus]. / Morbimortalidad perinatal en mujeres con diabetes mellitus y embarazo.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perinatal morbidity and mortality in all the diabetic pregnancies seen at the HGO-"LCA" from January 1992 to December 1993. In that period 186 women (mean age 31 yr) were diagnosed as having diabetes during pregnancy: 54% of them had DMG, 40% DM-II and 6% DM-I, with serum glucose concentration of 133 +/- 41 mg/dL. Neonatal morbidity was given by macrosomia (17%), prematurity (14%), hyperbilirubinemia (11%), hypoglycemia (8%), congenital malformation (6%) and hypocalcemia (4%). Perinatal mortality was 5.3%. The principal causes of maternal morbidity were preeclampsia (17%), polyhydramnios (16%), pyelonephritis (4%) and ketoacidosis (0.05%). Cesarean section was performed in 62% of all diabetic patients. There was not any maternal death. This results showed a high perinatal morbidity-mortality in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus which reclaim a better metabolic control during gestation period.

Morbimortalidad perinatal en mujeres con diabetes mellitus y embarazo / Perinatal morbimortality in women diabetes mellitus and pregnancy

El propósito de este estudio fue conocer las causas de morbilidad y mortalidad perinatal en mujeres con diabetes mellitus y embarazo en el HGO-"LCA", durante el período comprendido entre enero de 1992 y diciembre de 1993. Se atendieron 186 mujeres, con edad promedio de 31 años, el 54 por ciento tuvieron DMG, 40 por ciento DM-II y 6 por ciento DM-I. El promedio de glucosa sérica fue de 133 ñ 41 mg/dL. La morbilidad en los HMDM estuvo dada principalmente por macrosomía (17 por ciento), prematurez (14 por ciento), hiperbilirrubinemia (11 por ciento), hipoglucemia (8 por ciento), malformaciónes congénitas (6 por ciento) e hipocalcemia (4 por ciento). La mortalidad neonatal fue del 5.3 por ciento y la principal causa fue la muerte intrauterina. La causa principal de morbilidad materna fue la preeclampsia (17 por ciento), seguida de polihidramnios (16 por ciento), pielonefritis (4 por ciento) y cetoacidosis (0.05 por ciento). La cesárea se indicó en el 62 por ciento de las pacientes con diabetes mellitus y embarazo. No hubo mortalidad materna. Este trabajo pone de manifiesto que la morbimortalidad perinatal en embarazos complicados con diabetes mellitus continúa siendo alta, por lo que se requiere un mejor control metabólico de la diabetes mellitus durante la gestación

Effect of zinc treatment on serum thyroid hormones in uremic patients under peritoneal dialysis.

In order to evaluate the effect of zinc (Zn) deficiency on thyroid abnormalities in chronic renal failure, a Zn supplement (100 mg/day, p.o.) was given for four weeks to eight uremic patients under peritoneal dialysis. Zn supplementation increased plasma levels of TSH (5.8 +/- 0.7 to 7.4 +/- 0.7 mU/l, p < 0.02), T4 (61.6 +/- 3.9 to 93.9 +/- 6.2 nmol/l, p < 0.01), T3 (1.31 +/- 0.14 to 1.70 +/- 0.18 nmol/l, p < 0.01) and Zn (7.23 +/- 0.45 to 12.27 +/- 0.76 mumol/l, p < 0.01). A close correlation was found between changes in plasma levels of Zn and changes in TSH (r = 0.82), T4 (r = 0.55) and T3 (r = 0.64), suggesting that Zn deficiency may play a role in the biosynthesis or release of hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in chronic renal failure.

HbA1, height velocity and weight gain as indicators of metabolic control in type I diabetic children. A 5 year survey.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the metabolic control of the type I diabetic patients seen from 1984 to 1988. We analyzed the results of HbA1, height velocity and weight gain. Results showed that from 1984 1985 a 90% of diabetics were in poor metabolic control with HbA1 > 11% (good control < 11%). For 1988 the percentage of poor controlled patients descended to 78%. On the other hand, these patients observed a significant decrease in height velocity and weight gain compared with diabetics with HbA1 < 11% (p < 0.005 and p < 0.001). In addition, diabetics in poor metabolic control were under 10 and 3 number percentiles of the weight and growth diagrams. Finally, we found a significant correlation between HbA1 and height velocity as well as HbA1 and weight gain (r = -0.77 and r = -0.79; p < 0.001 for both). Our results showed that a great percent of our patients were in poor metabolic control with a decreased height velocity and weight gain.

Bone mineral content, 25-hydroxycalciferol and zinc serum levels in insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic patients.

To determine the relationship between bone mineral content (BMC), 25-Hydroxycalciferol (25OHD) and zinc serum levels in young insulin-dependent diabetics, we performed photon absorptiometry on a poorly controlled group of 22 patients. Zinc, 25OHD and alkaline phosphatase were measured in fasting serum. Ca, P, Mg, glucose and cAMP were determined in serum and in 24 hours urine collection. The diabetic group showed a significant decrease in BMC (less than 0.001) with raised urinary excretion rate of calcium (p less than 0.001). On the other hand, serum levels of zinc and 25OHD showed a significant decrease (p less than 0.001, both). We found a positive and significant correlation between glycosuria and urinary excretion rate of calcium (r = 0.77; p less than 0.001) and negative one for 25OHD and urinary excretion rate of calcium (r = -0.77; p less than 0.001). We conclude that decreased zinc and 25OHD serum levels in poorly controlled insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetic patients, in addition to raised urinary excretion rate of calcium, as result of the osmotic diuresis, contribute to bone loss in these patients.

Low plasma zinc and androgen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Plasma zinc and pituitary and testicular hormone concentrations were measured in two groups of male adolescents. One group comprised insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients, aged 14-19 years; the other, as control, included 12 healthy youngsters aged 13-19 years. Plasma concentration of zinc, prolactin, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone were lower in diabetics than in controls, whereas the ratios of androstenedione and androstenedione to testosterone + dihydrotestosterone were higher. Plasma FSH and LH were normal. These results suggest a diminished conversion of androstenedione to testosterone and relate zinc with the 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme activity.

Cambios en las gonadotropinas (LH, FSH), prolactina, androgenos (testosterona, dihidrotestosterona) y estrogenos (estradiol y estrona) durante la pubertad masculina. / Changes in gonadotropins (LH, FSH), prolactin, androgens (testosterone, dihydrotestosterone) and estrogens (estradiol and estrone) during male pubescence

Esta investigacion se diseno para entender mejor la fisiologia del desarrollo puberal en el varon y obtener patrones de referencia normales. Se estudiaron 44 varones sanos con edades de 8 a 19 anos y desarrollo sexual entre los estadios I y V de Tanner.Se determinaron en el suero las concentraciones de LH, FSH, prolactina, testosterona (T) y dihidrotestosterona (DHT), estradiol (E2) y estrona (E1). Las concentraciones de FSH aumentaron a partir del estadio I, estabilizandose a partir del IV, mientras que las de LH aumentaron a partir de estadio III. Las hormonas gonadales (T, DHT, E1 y E2) aumentaron progresivamente a partir del estadio I hasta el V.Se observo un patron similar en la prolactina, con una disminucion durante el estadio V. La DHT predomino en la relacion T: DHT en el estadio I, mientras que en el estadio V la T fue la predominante. Se atribuyen a la capacidad de la FSH para aumentar las concentraciones de compuestos 5 alfa reducidos, los cambios observados en la relacion T:DHT

Endocrine profile in patients with chronic renal failure under zinc replacement.

The plasma levels of androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL) were studied in 15 men (aged 24-50 years) with chronic renal failure under periodic peritoneal dialysis, before and after 50 mg of elemental zinc (Zn) orally, twice a day for three weeks. Before treatment, they were divided into three groups: group I, plasma A above normal and PRL less than 100 ng/ml; group II, low or normal A levels with PRL less than 100 ng/ml; and group III, normal or high A levels with PRL greater than 100 ng/ml. After oral Zn, plasma FSH, LH, and PRL were unchanged in all groups; however, in groups I and II plasma A was within normal T and DHT rose significantly, the A/(T+DHT) ratio decreased to normal, and the T/DHT ratio rose above normal. In group III plasma androgens remained low and androgen ratios were unchanged. Oral Zn seems to improve the conversion of A to T and also uncovered the possibility that plasma PRL levels greater than 100 ng/ml might cause a blockade in the 5 alfa-reductase.

Testicular function in men with chronic renal failure and transplant recipients under bromoergocriptine therapy.

Plasma zinc (Zn), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), and androgens concentrations were determined in 15 male patients with chronic renal failure who were successful recipients of kidney transplant. After 25 +/- 8.5 months of the renal transplant, Zn levels were (88 +/- 4 g/dl) lower than in the control group (116 +/- 5 micrograms/dl). Normal concentrations for androstenedione (A) (0.63 +/- 0.05 ng/ml) and testosterone (T) (3.31 +/- 0.15 ng/ml) were found. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels (0.38 +/- 0.01 ng/ml) were lower than normal (1.11 +/- 0.09 ng/ml), suggesting a blockade in the conversion of T to DHT. Eleven of the 15 patients showed higher PRL levels (9.5 +/- 0.8 ng/ml) in contrast with the normal group (3.6 +/- 0.3 ng/ml). Ten patients received orally 2-alpha-bromoergocriptine (BEC) 2.5 mg/day for ten days. Plasma PRL decreased to 2.6 +/- 1.0 ng/ml (p less than 0.001), but A and T levels did not significantly change; however, DHT increased from 0.38 +/- 0.02 ng/ml to 0.72 +/- 0.04 ng/ml (p less than 0.01). All patients showed an increase in both gonadotropins before BEC without significant changes after treatment. The high PRL levels may be responsible for the impaired conversion of T to DHT, possibly by interference with the enzyme 5 alpha-reductase.

Zinc, prolactin, gonadotropins, and androgen levels in uremic men.

This study correlates plasma levels of Zinc (Zn) and some pituitary and testicular hormones in 20 uremic men (aged 17-58 years) on a weekly peritoneal dialysis program. Patients were compared to 12 healthy male volunteers (aged 28-40 years). In uremic men, plasma androstenedione (A) was elevated, while testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and Zn were low. On a group basis, plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were normal while prolactin was increased. A negative correlation was observed between plasma A and LH levels, as well as between the A/T+DHT ratio and plasma Zn concentrations. Our results suggest a diminished A-to-T conversion and point to the possible role of Zn in the enzyme activity of the 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.