Conversion of high and low pollen protein diets into protein in worker honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

Adequate protein levels are necessary to maintain strong honey bee [Apis mellifera (L.)] colonies. The aim of this study was to quantify how pollens with different crude protein contents influence protein stores within individual honey bees. Caged bees were fed one of three diets, consisting of high-protein-content pollen, low-protein-content pollen, or protein-free diet as control; measurements were made based on protein content in hemolymph and fat body, fat body weight, and body weight. Vitellogenin in hemolymph was also measured. Bees fed with high crude protein diet had significantly higher levels of protein in hemolymph and fat bodies. Caged bees did not increase pollen consumption to compensate for the lower protein in the diet, and ingesting approximately 4 mg of protein per bee could achieve levels of 20 microg/microl protein in hemolymph. Worker bees fed with low crude protein diet took more time in reaching similar protein content of the bees that were fed with high crude protein diet. The data showed that fat bodies and body weight were not efficient methods of measuring the protein status of bees. The determination of total protein or vitellogenin concentration in the hemolymph from 13-d-old bees and protein concentration of fat bodies from 9-d-old bees could be good indicators of nutritional status of honey bees.

Spanish LupusPRO: cross-cultural validation study for lupus.

PURPOSE: LupusPRO is a disease-targeted, patient-reported, outcome measure that was developed and validated among US patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To expand the availability and use of the tool, we undertook a cross-cultural adaptation and validation study of the Spanish-translated version of the LupusPRO. METHOD: Forward and back translations of the 43-item English LupusPRO were undertaken and pretested in five individuals. The finalized Spanish version was administered to 211 SLE patients of Hispanic ancestry from the US and Latin America. Short Form-36 (Spanish) and Spanish LupusPRO were also administered. Disease activity was ascertained using the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index. A Spanish LupusPRO questionnaire that could be completed within 2-3 days was mailed to SLE patients of Hispanic ancestry and they mailed it back. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, criterion validity (against disease activity or health status) and convergent validity were tested. All reported p values are two-tailed. RESULTS: A total of 211 Spanish-speaking SLE patients (90% women) participated. Test-retest reliability of LupusPRO domains ranged from 0.80-0.95, while internal consistency reliability of the domains ranged from 0.71-0.96. Convergent validity with corresponding domains of the SF-36 was present. All health-related quality of life domains of the LupusPRO (except procreation) performed well against disease activity measures, establishing its criterion validity. Confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit. CONCLUSION: The Spanish LupusPRO has fair psychometric properties and is now available to be included in clinical trials and in longitudinal studies for testing of responsiveness to change.

Validation of the Spanish, Portuguese and French versions of the Lupus Damage Index questionnaire: data from North and South America, Spain and Portugal.

We have previously developed and validated a self-administered questionnaire, modelled after the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SDI), the Lupus Damage Index Questionnaire (LDIQ), which may allow the ascertainment of this construct in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients followed in the community and thus expand observations made about damage. We have now translated, back-translated and adapted the LDIQ to Spanish, Portuguese and French and applied it to patients followed at academic and non-academic centres in North and South America, Portugal and Spain while their physicians scored the SDI. A total of 887 patients (659 Spanish-speaking, 140 Portuguese-speaking and 80 French-speaking patients) and 40 physicians participated. Overall, patients scored all LDIQ versions higher than their physicians (total score and all domains). Infrequent manifestations had less optimal clinimetric properties but overall agreement was more than 95% for the majority of items. Higher correlations were observed among the Spanish-speaking patients than the Portuguese-speaking and French-speaking patients; further adjustments may be needed before the Portuguese and French versions of the LDIQ are applied in community-based studies. The relationship between the LDIQ and other outcome parameters is currently being investigated in a different patient sample.

[Training and clinical activity of Spanish retinologists: a preliminary approach. Retina 2 project. Descriptive analysis]. / Formación y actividad clínica de los retinólogos en España: un primer acercamiento. Proyecto retina 2. Análisis descriptivo.

PURPOSE: To create a database of Spanish ophthalmologists mainly dedicated to retinal pathology care, describing their training period characteristics and their daily activity (clinical and surgical). METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to 504 possible retinologists identified through the information supplied by the Spanish Ophthalmological Society and the Spanish Vitreous-Retina Society, with a minimum of 3 retinologists per Autonomous Region. RESULTS: 267 (52.9% of the sample population) responses were collected and processed. Most of the respondents had started their residency after 1980 (82.4%). Ninety-four percent had received specific training in retinal pathology, mostly during the residency period (82.1%) and from more experienced colleagues (62.9%). Official fellowships were held in a minority of cases (around 12%). Twelve percent of retinologists performed retinal surgery only, 14.6% performed anterior segment surgery, and 60.7% performed both types of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Despite not having taken into consideration non-response bias, this study provides the first reported data on the professional profile of Spanish retinologists.

Documento de voluntades anticipadas: opinión de los profesionales sanitarios de Atención Primaria / Advanced Directives Document: opinion of the primary health care professionals

Objetivo: Conocer la opinión de los profesionales sanitarios de la Atención Primaria (AP) sobre el Documento de Voluntades Anticipadas (DVA). Diseño. Estudio descriptivo transversal. Emplazamiento. Seis centros de salud de Tenerife. Sujetos. Médicos, enfermeros y residentes de medicina familiar y comunitaria. Método; Los participantes recibieron información escrita sobre el DVA junto con un cuestionario de seis preguntas cerradas diseñado específicamente. Resultados. Participaron un total de 113 profesionales (38,7% médicos; 22,6% residentes de Medicina Familiar y 38,7% enfermeros). El 60,6% fueron mujeres. La media de edad fue de 38,59 años (desviación típica [DT]: 9,4) y la media de experiencia laboral de 14,68 años (DT: 10,24). El 68,1% de los participantes conocía la posibilidad de realizar el DVA. El 70% respondió que el paciente debería tener la iniciativa de hablar sobre el DVA. Un 53,2% consideró la consulta de AP como el entorno adecuado, existiendo diferencias según la categoría profesional (residentes: 70,8%, enfermeros: 48,7% y médicos de AP 46,3%; p = 0,005) y según los años de experiencia laboral (menos de 15 años: 66,88%, más de 15 años: 36,84%; p = 0,05). Un 60,7% se sentiría cómodo abordando el tema. Las principales dificultades se encontraron al hablar de la muerte con el paciente (52,2%) o explicar trámites administrativos (45,1%). Conclusiones. El DVA es conocido por más de la mitad de los profesionales de AP, prefiriendo que sea el paciente el que tome la iniciativa. El considerar la consulta de AP el entorno adecuado para hablar del DVA es bien valorado, sobre todo por los profesionales con menos años de experiencia (AU)

Objective. To know primary care (PC) health professional´s opinion about advanced directives (AD). Design. Cross sectional, descriptive study. SETTING. Six health care centres in Tenerife. Participants. Primary care physicians, nurses and family medicine residents. Methods. Participants received written information on the AD along with a questionnaire that consisted of six closedended questions specially designed for this study. Results. 113 professionals participated (38,7% PC physicians, 22,6% family medicine residents and 38,7% nurses). 60,7% were women. The mean age was 38,59 years (SD: 9,4) and the average number of years of work experience was 14,68% (SD: 10,24). Over 68,1% knew the possibility of performing an AD. About 70% answered that patients take the initiative in discussing AD. Fifty-three percent considered a primary care visit as a suitable opportunity to discuss AD, but there were differences according to professional category (residents physicians: 70,8%, nurses: 48,7%, PC physicians: 46,3%, p = 0,005) and years of working experience (<15 years: 66,8%, >15 years: 36,84%, p = 0,05). Over 60,7% felt comfortable dealing with this subject. The main difficulties were found when talking about death with the patient (52,2%) or explaining administrative procedures (45,1%). Conclusions : More than a half of the primary care professionals knew AD, and they preferred patients to take the initiative regarding this subject. Considering primary care visit a suitable moment to discuss AD is well appreciated, especially by those professionals with less experience (AU)

Formación y actividad clínica de los retinólogos en España: un primer acercamiento. Proyecto Retina 2. Análisis descriptivo / Training and clinical activity of spanish retinologists: A preliminary approach. Retina 2 project. Descriptive analysis

Objetivo: Obtener un listado de oftalmólogos españolesdedicados a la patología retiniana y describiralgunas características de su formación específica yde su actividad clínica cotidiana.Método: Se ha enviado una encuesta por correopostal a 504 probables retinólogos identificados apartir de la información proporcionada por lasSociedades Española de Oftalmología y de Retina yVítreo y un conjunto mínimo de tres retinólogos decada Comunidad Autónoma.Resultados: Se han obtenido 267 respuestas(52,9% de la población). El 83% obtuvo su especialidaddespués de 1980. El 94% ha recibido formaciónespecífica, sobre todo durante la residencia(82,1%) y de compañeros más expertos (67,7%). La realización de masteres oficiales es muy minoritaria (solo un 16,7% tienen al menos un master).El 12% se dedica en exclusiva a la patología quirúrgica,el 24,7% a la médica y el 62,9% combinanambas actividades. Un 22,5% opera patología retiniana,un 14,6% realiza cirugía del segmento anteriory un 60,7% combina ambas.Conclusiones: A pesar de no haberse tenido encuenta el sesgo de la no repuesta, se dispone de losprimeros datos sobre el perfil y la actividad de losdenominados retinólogos, en España(AU)

Purpose: To create a database of Spanish ophthalmologistsmainly dedicated to retinal pathologycare, describing their training period characteristicsand their daily activity (clinical and surgical).Methods: A postal questionnaire was sent to 504possible retinologists identified through the informationsupplied by the Spanish OphthalmologicalSociety and the Spanish Vitreous-Retina Society,with a minimum of 3 retinologists per AutonomousRegion.Results: 267 (52.9% of the sample population) responseswere collected and processed. Most of therespondents had started their residency after 1980(82.4%). Ninety-four percent had received specifictraining in retinal pathology, mostly during the residency period (82.1%) and from more experiencedcolleagues (62.9%). Official fellowships were heldin a minority of cases (around 12%). Twelve percentof retinologists performed retinal surgery only,14.6% performed anterior segment surgery, and60.7% performed both types of surgery.Conclusions: Despite not having taken into considerationnon-response bias, this study provides thefirst reported data on the professional profile ofSpanish retinologists(AU)

Recurrent urinary tract infections and bladder dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus.

To assess bladder function in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). A convenience sample of consecutive patients with SLE (American College of Rheumatology criteria), with recurrent UTIs (>/=3 events in the preceding 12 months), without history of central nervous system involvement, urolithiasis or preceding tuberculosis were studied. Disease activity (SLEDAI-2K), damage (SDI), lower urinary tract symptoms [Pelvic pain and Urgency/Frequency (PUF) and the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom and Problem Index (ICSPI) scales] and Autonomic Symptom Profile (ASP) were assessed. All patients underwent urological examination and urodynamic assessment with cystometry, uroflow, micturition and urethral pressure profile. Ten patients (nine women) were included. The majority of the patients reported urinary symptoms: urgency (n = 8), frequency (n = 8), nocturia (n = 9) and pain (n = 10). The patients had a mean (SD) ICSPI score of 18.4 (9.8), PUF score of 17.4 (5.3) and ASP weighted score of 31.7 (16.1). Abnormal urodynamics findings were identified in seven of the 10 patients, including small bladder capacity (two patients), reduced bladder sensation (four patients), subnormal urinary flow rate (one patient) and a significant amount of residual urine (two patients). The urodynamics findings suggest that bladder dysfunction could be one of the mechanisms involved on the occurrence of recurrent UTIs in patients with SLE. These findings have potential implications for the proper assessment and management of SLE patients with recurrent UTIs. Further studies are needed to corroborate our results.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors delay the occurrence of renal involvement and are associated with a decreased risk of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus--results from LUMINA (LIX): a multiethnic US cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To examine if angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use delays the occurrence of renal involvement and decreases the risk of disease activity in SLE patients. METHODS: SLE patients (Hispanics, African Americans and Caucasians) from the lupus in minorities: nature vs nurture (LUMINA) cohort were studied. Renal involvement was defined as ACR criterion and/or biopsy-proven lupus nephritis. Time-to-renal involvement was examined by univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Disease activity was examined with a case-crossover design and a conditional logistic regression model; in the case intervals, a decrease in the SLAM-R score >or=4 points occurred but not in the control intervals. RESULTS: Eighty of 378 patients (21%) were ACE inhibitor users; 298 (79%) were not. The probability of renal involvement free-survival at 10 yrs was 88.1% for users and 75.4% for non-users (P = 0.0099, log rank test). Users developed persistent proteinuria and/or biopsy-proven lupus nephritis (7.1%) less frequently than non-users (22.9%), P = 0.016. By multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, ACE inhibitors use [hazard ratio (HR) 0.27; 95% CI 0.09, 0.78] was associated with a longer time-to-renal involvement occurrence whereas African American ethnicity (HR 3.31; 95% CI 1.44, 7.61) was with a shorter time. ACE inhibitor use (54/288 case and 254/1148 control intervals) was also associated with a decreased risk of disease activity (HR 0.56; 95% CI 0.34, 0.94). CONCLUSIONS: ACE inhibitor use delays the development of renal involvement and associates with a decreased risk of disease activity in SLE; corroboration of these findings in other lupus cohorts is desirable before practice recommendations are formulated.

Antipyretic effects of dipyrone versus ibuprofen versus acetaminophen in children: results of a multinational, randomized, modified double-blind study.

This study compared the antipyretic effectiveness of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and dipyrone in young children with fever. The results were based on a modified double-blind, randomized, multinational trial that evaluated 628 febrile children, aged 6 months to 6 years. All three drugs lowered temperature in the 555 patients completing the study. Temperature normalization rates in the ibuprofen and dipyrone groups (78% and 82%, respectively) were significantly higher than the acetaminophen group (68%, P = 0.004). After 4 to 6 hours, mean temperature in the dipyrone group was significantly lower than the other groups, demonstrating longer temperature normalization with dipyrone. All three drugs showed comparable tolerability profiles.

Changes induced in bovine serum albumin following interactions with the lipid peroxidation product E-2-octenal.

Bovine serum albumin (BSA) undergoes a number of deteriorative changes when exposed to E-2-octenal. Reaction of BSA with E-2-octenal produced fluorescent BSA with an excitation maximum at 350 nm and emission maximum at 440 nm and promoted polymerization. Amino acid analysis of the modified BSA showed that the E-2-octenal treatment leads to the selective loss of lysine residues and the formation of new amino acid derivatives. The same products were detected in acid hydrolysates of poly-L-lysine and N2-(carbobenzyloxy)-L-lysine after their reactions with E-2-octenal. The reaction of N2-(carbobenzyloxy)-L-lysine with E-2-octenal led to the production of 1-[N2-(carbobenzyloxy)-L-lysyl]-2- (1'-carboxymethyl)-4-pentylpyridinium betaine, 1-[N2-(carbobenzyloxy)-L-lysyl]-2- (3'-carboxy-2'-E-propen-1'-yl)-4- pentylpyridinium betaine and bis[1-[N2-(carbobenzyloxy)-L-lysyl]-2- (3'-carboxy-2'-propen-1',2'-diyl)- 4-pentylpyridinium betaine] (isomeric mixture). Upon acid hydrolysis, these quaternary pyridinium salts led to new amino acid derivatives, presumably 1-(L-lysyl)-2-(1'-carboxymethyl)-4-pentylpyridinium betaine, 1-(L-lysyl)-2-(3'-carboxy-2'-E-propen-1'-yl)- 4-pentylpyridinium betaine and bis[1-(L-lysyl)-2-(3'-carboxy-2'-propen-1',2'-diyl)- 4-pentylpyridinium betaine] (isomeric mixture) that were indistinguishable from those obtained from BSA, poly-L-lysine and N2-(carbobenzyloxy)-L-lysine after similar treatment. The reaction of lysine residues with E-2-octenal provides the basis for methods by which the contributions of E-2-octenal in the modifications of proteins can be determined.