Determinación de composición corporal mediante análisis de impedancia segmentada: consideraciones y aplicaciones prácticas / Determination of body composition by segmental bioeletrical impedance analysis: considerations and practical applications

Introduction: Bioelectrical impedance is a fast, inexpensive, easy, portable, and noninvasive method. A major innovation in the analysis of body composition is segmental bioelectrical impedance. Objectives: To assess the applicability of segmental bioelectrical impedance. Subjects and methods: The study was conducted on female subjects divided into two groups: Group I (n =8) consisted of healthy women and group II (n=25) of obese women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). All subjects were submitted to examination by total and segmental bioelectrical impedance. Results and discussion: Anthropometric parameters (weight, BMI, total lean mass and total fat mass) showed significant differences between groups. There was a significant difference between groups I and II for all body segments evaluated, except for lean mass of the leg. Conclusion: Procedures of segmental bioelectrical impedance will be increasingly useful in the nutritional assessment of tissue masses, enabling assessment that is more sensitive and monitoring of nutritional care.

Introdução : A impedância bioelétrica é um método rápido, barato, fácil, portátil e nao invasivo. Urna grande inovação na análise da composição corporal é a Impedância Bioelétrica Segmentar. Objetivos: Avahar a aplicabilidade da impedância bioelétrica segmentar. Sujetos e Métodos: o estudo foi realizado com individuos do sexo feminino, divididos em: Group I (n=8) composto por mulheres eutróficas e o Group II (n=25) mulheres obesas com Síndrome do Ovario Policístico (SOP). Todos os individuos foram submetidos ao exame de impedância bioelétrica total e segmentar. Resultados e discussão : Os parâmetros antropométricos de peso, IMC, massa magra total e massa gorda total apresentaram diferencas significativas entre os groups. Houve diferenca significativa para todos os segmentos corporais avahados, com exceção da massa magra da perna entre o group I e II. Conclusão : Procedimentos de impedância bioelétrica segmentar serão cada vez mais úteis na avaliação nutricional de massas teciduais, possibilitando avaliações e monitoramentos mais sensíveis do cuidado nutricional.

Analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of the small-conductance calcium activated potassium channel (SK3) gene as genetic modifier of the cardiac phenotype in myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most frequently inherited neuromuscular disease in adults. It is a multisystemic disorder with major cardiac involvement most commonly represented by first-degree atrioventricular heart block (AVB), followed by different degrees of bundle-branch and intraventricular blocks In search for candidate genes, modifiers of the AVB phenotype in DM1, the expression of the small-conductance calcium activated potassium channel (SK3) gene was analysed in muscle biopsies from DM1 patients. The association between SK3 polymorphisms and the AVB phenotype was then studied analyzing 40 DM1 patients with AVB and 40 age-matched DM1 affected individuals with no ECG abnormalities. [CTG]n repeat length and cardiac clinical picture were also assessed for correlation. QRT-PCR experiments showed an over-expression of the SK3 transcript in DM1 muscle biopsies compared to healthy controls. However, no statistical association between the AVB phenotype and either the [CTG]n expansion length or the presence of specific SNPs in the SK3 gene were detected. These findings suggest that modifier genes, other than SK3, should be identified in order to explain the cardiac phenotypic variability among DM1 patients.

Elaboração de protocolos de enfermagem para pacientes submetidos à cirurgia oncológica do aparelho digestivo alto / Elaboration of nursing protocols for patients submitted to oncologic surgery of the upper digestive system

O interesse pela realização deste trabalho surgiu por meio da participação em uma equipe multidisciplinar de cirurgia oncológica do aparelho digestivo alto, motivando a realização de mudanças na assistência de enfermagem. O objetivo foi relatar a elaboração de protocolos de assistência de enfermagem no pré e no pós-operatório de pacientes submetidos a cirurgias oncológicas do aparelho digestivo alto. O processo de elaboração foi realizado entre os meses de fevereiro e outubro de 2006, no 6º andar do Hospital de Base deSão José do Rio Preto, interior de São Paulo. Para a elaboração dos protocolos foram traçadas três etapas de desenvolvimento: participação, observação e coleta de dados durante as visitas da equipe multidisciplinar; revisão na literatura sobre as intervenções e, por fim, a elaboração dos protocolos. Em conclusão, o trabalho em equipe multidisciplinar e especificamente com doentes com câncer no aparelho digestivo alto, gerou mudanças no comportamento da enfermagem que culminou com a criação e a implantação de novos protocolosde atendimento específicos para esses pacientes, bem como um protocolo para identificação precoce de infecção do sítio cirúrgico. Outra observação é que esses protocolos devem ser dinâmicos e implementados continuamente, permitindo a avaliação contínua da assistência médica e de enfermagem. Acredita-se que a implantação desses protocolos proporcionará a melhoria da qualidade do atendimento de enfermagem para os pacientes internados pela equipe de cirurgia oncológica do aparelho digestivo alto, além de permitir um enfoque sobre a incidência de infecção do sítio cirúrgico, resultando em benefícios para o paciente e criando oportunidades para futuras intervenções visando à melhoria contínua do serviço.

Being part of a multiprofessional team of oncologic surgery of the upper digestive system has motivated the interest to carry out this work. It has also induced some changes in the nursing care. The purpose of the present study was to report the elaboration of nursing care protocols in pre and postoperative periods of the patients submitted to oncologic surgery of the upper digestive system. The elaboration process was carried out between February and October 2006, at the 6th floor of Hospital de Base, a Teaching Hospital, in São José do Rio Preto, interior of São Paulo State. To develop the process three stages were outlined: participation, observation and data collection during the visits of the multidisciplinary team; the literature review oninterventions and, finally, the elaboration of nursing care protocols. In conclusion, the multidisciplinary team and, mainly, with patients with cancer of the upper digestive system produced changes in nursing behavior. This has culminated with the elaboration and introduction of new specific care protocols for these patients as well as a protocol for early i dentification of surgical site infection. Another observation is that these protocols should be dynamic and continually implemented, allowing the continuous evaluation ofboth medical and nursing care. The introduction of these protocols will promote the quality of nursing carefor the patient admitted by the oncologic surgery team of the upper digestive system. In addition, it allows focusing on the surgical site infection incidence resulting in benefits for the patients and creating opportunities for further interventions to continuously improve the service.

Italian guidelines for molecular analysis in myotonic dystrophies.

Myotonic dystrophies, the most common form of adult muscular dystrophy, comprise at least two forms, clinically and genetically heterogeneous. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 and type 2 are both caused by unstable repetitions in untranslated gene regions: a [CTG]n expansion in the 3' region of the DMPK gene on chromosome 19q13 (DM1) and [CCTG]n tetranucleotide repeat located in the first intron of the ZNF9 gene on chromosome 3q21 (DM2). DM clinical features are caused by a gain of functions RNA mechanism in which the CUG and CCUG repeats alter nuclear functions, including alternative splicing of shared genes. Southern blot and/or polymerase chain reaction PCR-based approaches allow the detection of DM mutations in almost 100% of cases, however, the expansion size and the elevated grade of somatic instability make molecular testing for DM a diagnostic challenge. The increased use of DNA testing for DM generates many questions regarding the indications and interpretations of the test which require standardized methods, routinely available in molecular genetic laboratories. Here, we propose Guidelines for the molecular diagnosis of DM1 and DM2 approved by the Italian Ministry of Health in 2005 (Piano Nazionale Linee Guida, PNLG). Best practice for DM molecular analysis in diagnostic application, presymptomatic and prenatal testing, using direct and indirect approaches are described, with particular attention focused on ethical, legal and social issues. Overviews of materials used in the molecular diagnosis, as well as internet resources, are also included.

Regional variations of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), IGF-II, and receptor type I in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue and their correlation with intraprostatic androgens.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an androgen-dependent disease; it originates exclusively in the inner prostate, which includes tissue surrounding the urethra. Stromal-epithelial interaction has a pivotal role in the regulation of the development and growth of the prostate, and locally produced peptide growth factors are considered important mediators of this interaction. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-II, acting mainly through type 1 IGF receptor (IGFR1), have mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects on epithelial and stromal prostatic cells. In this study the expression of IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFR1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), the immunoreactive content of IGF-I (irIGF-I) and IGF-II (irIGF-II) were determined in periurethral, intermediate, and subcapsular regions of BPH tissue to verify their possible regional variation; a correlation to the tissue levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and 3 alpha-androstanediol (3 alpha Diol) was also determined to verify their possible androgen dependence. Prostates were removed by suprapubic prostatectomy from 14 BPH patients and sectioned in the periurethral, intermediate, and subcapsular regions. Gene expression of IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFR1 was evaluated by semiquantitative RT-PCR, using beta-actin as a control. irIGF-I was measured by RIA, and irIGF-II was measured by IRMA after acidification and chromatography on Sep-Pak C(18) cartridges. DHT and 3 alpha Diol concentrations were evaluated by RIA after extraction and purification on Celite microcolumns. IGF-II and IGFR1, but not IGF-I, mRNA was higher in the periurethral than in the intermediate (P < 0.05) and subcapsular (P < 0.01) region. Also, prostatic levels of irIGF-II, expressed as picomoles per g tissue, were higher in the periurethral (20.84 +/- 1.84) than in the intermediate (14.81 +/- 2.11; P < 0.05) and subcapsular (10.88 +/- 1.21; P < 0.001) region. No significant differences were found in irIGF-I content. Considering prostatic androgen levels, DHT and 3alphaDiol presented a regional variation, with the highest concentrations in the periurethral region. IGF-II mRNA and irIGF-II levels were positively correlated with both DHT and 3 alpha Diol content. These results demonstrate that in BPH tissue a greater IGF-II activity is present in the periurethral region, the site of origin of BPH. Moreover, we can hypothesize that the tissue androgen content may modulate prostatic production of IGF-II, acting at the transcriptional and probably the posttranscriptional level. Therefore, even though further studies will need to confirm this hypothesis, DHT may increase IGF-II activity, mainly in the periurethral region, which, in turn, induces, through IGFR1, benign proliferation of both epithelial and stromal cells, characteristic of BPH.