Young adult binge drinkers have immunophenotypical disarrangements in peripheral natural killer cells.

Alcohol consumption is an issue of worldwide relevance and a problem of national scale in Mexico. The consumption pattern of large amounts of alcohol on the weekends is rapidly increasing in young adults between 18 and 29 years. Despite various studies that have focused on the noxious effect of alcohol in immunity, the changes in the immunoprofiles of peripheral blood cells have not been completely described. Natural killer cells (NKCs) are lymphoid-origin cells of the immune system that are responsible for defense against tumors, among other functions. In homeostatic conditions, they are found to be in a state of "dynamic balance" between activation and inhibition stimuli, which, if broken, may lead to immunosuppression or activation of cytotoxic mechanisms. In this study, we evaluated the immunoprofile of peripheral NKCs of 54 young adults, 29 of whom were binge drinkers and 25 of whom were low risk (LR), as classified by validated tools. Drinking habits were assessed. Blood samples were collected to perform hematic biometry and liver enzyme tests. Peripheral NKCs were identified by FACS, and stained for CCR2, CCR4, CCR5, CXCR4, CD69, CD127, CD137, TLR4, and Granzyme B. The data were analyzed using the t test and Mann-Whitney's U test for contrasts, and the effect size was obtained in order to evaluate the impact of each immunoprofile. The binge group showed increased expression of CCR5 and PD-1 in NKCs, respective to the LR group, and decreased expression of TLR4, along with fewer CCR4+ cells. Moreover, the increase found in CCR5 and PD-1 expression was correlated with the number of drinks in the last drinking session. Our findings show that young binge drinkers have different immunoprofiles that could suggest an early status of immunosuppression and trafficking of NKCs to the liver, which could be related to the onset of early liver damage, early in a subject's lifespan.

Risk factors associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease relapse in primary care patients successfully treated with a proton pump inhibitor. / Factores de riesgo asociados a recaída de enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico en pacientes de primer nivel de atención exitosamente tratados con inhibidor de la bomba de protones.

BACKGROUND: There are no studies on the factors associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) relapse in primary care patients. AIM: To identify the risk factors associated with GERD relapse in primary care patients that responded adequately to short-term treatment with a proton pump inhibitor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort study was conducted that included GERD incident cases. The patients received treatment with omeprazole for 4 weeks. The ReQuest questionnaire and a risk factor questionnaire were applied. The therapeutic success rate and relapse rate were determined at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment suspension. A logistic regression analysis of the possible risk factors for GERD relapse was carried out. RESULTS: Of the 83 patient total, 74 (89.16%) responded to treatment. Symptoms recurred in 36 patients (48.64%) at 4 weeks and in 13 patients (17.57%) at 12 weeks, with an overall relapse rate of 66.21%. The OR multivariate analysis (95% CI) showed the increases in the possibility of GERD relapse for the following factors at 12 weeks after treatment suspension: basic educational level or lower, 24.95 (1.92-323.79); overweight, 1.76 (0.22-13.64); obesity, 0.25 (0.01-3.46); smoking, 0.51 (0.06-3.88); and the consumption of 4-12 cups of coffee per month, 1.00 (0.12-7.84); citrus fruits, 14.76 (1.90-114.57); NSAIDs, 27.77 (1.12-686.11); chocolate, 0.86 (0.18-4.06); ASA 1.63 (0.12-21.63); carbonated beverages, 4.24 (0.32-55.05); spicy food 7-16 times/month, 1.39 (0.17-11.17); and spicy food ≥ 20 times/month, 4.06 (0.47-34.59). CONCLUSIONS: The relapse rate after short-term treatment with omeprazole was high. The consumption of citrus fruits and NSAIDs increased the possibility of GERD relapse.

Polar vectors as a method for evaluating the effectiveness of irritable bowel syndrome treatments: an analysis with pinaverium bromide 100mg plus simethicone 300mg po bid.

BACKGROUND: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a disorder characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort associated with changes in bowel habit. Currently there are no objective outcome measures for evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for this disorder. AIMS: To determine the usefulness of a method of analysis that employs polar vectors to evaluate the effectiveness of IBS treatments. METHODS: Data from a Phase IV clinical study with 1677 active IBS-Rome III patients who received 100mg of pinaverium bromide+300mg of simethicone (PB+S) po bid for a period of four weeks were used for the analysis. Using the Bristol Stool Scale as a reference, the consistency and frequency of each type of bowel movement were recorded weekly in a Bristol Matrix (BM) and the data were expressed as polar vectors. RESULTS: The analysis showed a differential response to the PB+S treatment among the IBS subtypes: in reference to the IBS with constipation subtype, the magnitude of the vector increased from 10.2 to 12.5, reaching maximum improvement at two weeks of treatment (p<0.05, Scheffé). In the IBS with diarrhea and mixed IBS subtypes, the magnitude of the vector decreased from 19 to 14 (p<0.05) and from 16.5 to 13 (p<0.05), respectively, with continuous improvement for a period of four weeks. There was no definable vectorial pattern in the unsubtyped IBS group. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis with polar vectors enables treatment response to be measured in different IBS subtypes. All the groups showed improvement with PB+S, but each one had its own characteristic response in relation to vector magnitude and direction. The proposed method can be implemented in clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy of IBS treatments.

[IT-Knife-2 electroincision as primary treatment of anastomotic strictures]. / Electroincisión con IT-Knife-2 como tratamiento primario de las estenosis posquirúrgicas.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia is a common problem after surgical stenosis (5% to 55%) and can be refractory to conventional endoscopic treatment in 22% of cases. It has been proposed that electro-incision is an alternative and effective treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of electro-incision with the insulation-tipped diathermic Knife-2 (IT-Knife-2) in the treatment of dysphagia produced by surgical anastomotic strictures. METHODS: Longitudinal and case-series study from August 2009 to June 2010. Eight consecutive patients with anastomotic stricture-associated dysphagia and naive to endoscopic treatment were included. We performed three or more radiated cuts in the stricture until passage of the gastroscope was achieved with IT-Knife-2 and electrocautery (ERBE IC 200) with a 70-100 W energy cut-off and 25 W coagulation. We carried out measurements at baseline and 15 days after the intervention, evaluating the dysphagia by the Atkinson grading scale and endoscopic changes. RESULTS: The majority of patients were at clinical stage IV with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score of 1 - 3 and Karnofsky between 40 and 90. At the time of endoscopic diagnosis, patients had dysphagia grade II and III. Strictures in all of the cases were short in length and had a diameter of minor than 5 mm. At 15 days of the intervention, no patient demonstrated dysphagia (p = 0.0013) and the anastomotic diameters was more than 9.5 mm and without evidence of stenosis (p = 0.0001). None of our patients presented postincisional complications. CONCLUSIONS: Electro-incision with IT-Knife-2 is effective as primary treatment for the relief of benign dysphagia associated with postsurgical anastomotic stenosis."

[Effect of antioxidant supplementation over oxidative stress and quality of life in cervical cancer]. / Efecto de la suplementación con antioxidantes sobre el estrés oxidativo y la calidad de vida durante el tratamiento oncológico en pacientes con cáncer cérvico uterino.

BACKGROUND: Mexico has a high rate of cervical cancer which represents an important public health issue. The treatment for this disease depends on the extension of the tumor; for the initial stages surgery is recommended, and for locally advanced tumors, a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is used. All this process affects natural antioxidant consumption and Quality of Life (QoL). OBJECTIVE: To find out the effect that supplementation with antioxidants (ß-carotene, vitamin C y vitamin E) has on oxidative stress, and quality of life in patient diagnosed with cervical cancer during treatments with cisplatin and radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a randomized, blind clinical trial in women with cervical cancer whose antineoplasic treatment was radiotherapy in and radiotherapy with cisplatin. Patients were randomly assigned to receive antioxidant therapy or a placebo. Plasma concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA), free carbonyls, dityrosines, and carbonyl/protein rate in two different moments, before oncologic therapy, and after finishing oncology treatment, we also evaluated food consumption by using a validated food frequency questionnaire and a QOL questionnaire before treatment and after it was over. The effect of the antioxidant treatment was assessed by the use t-student test for independent and paired samples, as well as frequencies and X² for categorical variables. RESULTS: We evaluated 103 patients who were randomly assigned to receive treatment with antioxidants 49 (47.60%) and placebo 54 (52.40%). We did not find statistically significant differences in food or antioxidant consumption according to the food frequency questionnaires. Most of the patients consumed more energy than needed to meet their requirement, but they did not consume enough of most of the antioxidants according to the Recommended Dailiy Allowance (RDA) recommendation. Serum levels of plasma free carbonyls and carbonil/mg of protein ratio were statistically significant (p < 0.009) which shows protein protection regarding oxidative stress in the supplemented group, this information was similar to the one found in the QOL questionnaire, which showed that Global QOL was better in the supplemented group (p < 0.025). Most of the patients had lower α-tocopherol and retinol plasma levels than the recommended values. CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant supplementation showed to be effective in reducing oxidative stress in proteins, but it did not on food ingestion, patients did not meet their antioxidants requirement in their diets, in spite of an excess in energy consumption. Antioxidant plasma levels in most of the patients were lower than normal. QoL score was better in the supplemented group.

[External validity of a relevant model for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) using chronic stress by water avoidance in Wistar rats]. / Validez externa de un modelo experimental para síndrome de intestino irritable (SII) mediante estrés crónico por evitación al agua en ratas Wistar.

BACKGROUND: Development of animal models has been one of the most remarkable achievements for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) research. These models need to exhibit face validity, construct and predictive validity, as well as internal (replicability) and external validity (generalizability). Among these models, chronic stress induced by water avoidance exposure (WA) has been validated in rats through increasing visceral hypersensitivity, motility impairment, anxiety and, colonic immune activity, all related to IBS. OBJECTIVE: To assess the external validity of WA indirectly on colonic motility in Wistar rats. METHOD: Ten male-Wistar rats were exposed to WA and compared with ten Wistar rats not exposed (controls). At the end of each exposure, the quantity of fecal pellets were determined and considered as a sign of autonomic regulation of colonic motility. Data was analyzed with a general linear model for repeated measures. RESULTS: Rats exposed to WA had higher number or pellets than controls: 7.46 ± 0.45 (95%CI: 6.51, 8.41) vs. 2.88 ± 0.45 (1.93, 3.83), p < 0.001. The higher number of pellets was related to WA exposure as there were no other significant interactions. In both groups, the number of pellets was higher during the first day and then decreased progressively. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic stress induced through WA in Wistar rats, exhibits external validity as an experimental model for IBS research and our findings of increased number of fecal pellets coincide with the appearance hypermotility related to IBS. The model is optimum for research studies on this disorder.

[Prevalence and clinical characteristics of the IBS subtypes according to the Rome III criteria in patients from a clinical, multicentric trial. A report from the Mexican IBS Working Group]. / Prevalencia y caracterización de los subtipos de SII según los criterios de Roma III, en un estudio clínico, multicéntrico. Informe del grupo mexicano de estudio para el SII.

BACKGROUND: In Mexico the prevalence of irritable bowel síndrome (IBS) using Rome II criteria varies between 16 and 35%. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relative frequency of the IBS subtypes according to the Rome III criteria. METHODS: A multicentric study in 1677 IBS-Rome III patients that consulted private medical clinics. They all answered a structured interview by their physicians to determine the IBS subtype and to evaluate their symptoms intensity (Likert Scales). Patients self-evaluated their symptoms as well by using 10 cm visual analog scales for each one. RESULTS: Women represented 76.8% of the patients for a F:M ratio of 3.3:1. The relative frequencies of the IBS subtypes were IBS-M: 48.4%, IBS-E: 43.0%, IBS-D: 5.6% and IBS-U: 2.8% with females predominating among all. However, IBS-D included 1.7 to 2.4 times more men than any of the other subtypes. The IBS-M reported a higher frequency and intensity of halitosis and vomiting and a higher intensity of burping; while those with IBS-E reported a higher frequency and intensity of straining and the IBS-D more urgency for a bowel movement, fecal incontinence and mucous in the stools. CONCLUSIONS: In IBS-Rome III patients in Mexico, IBS-M is the most common subtype and is more commonly associated with dyspeptic symptoms while the IBS-E reported more outlet symptoms and the IBS-D fecal incontinence. There is a higher female predominance amongst all, however men are more likely to be in IBS-D.

Heartburn and other related symptoms are independent of body mass index in irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: increasing body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for GERD but little is known about this association in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). AIMS: to determine the presence of heartburn and other related symptoms in relation with BMI in IBS. METHODS: volunteers (n = 483) answered the Rome II-Modular Questionnaire, and were divided into IBS and non-IBS (controls) groups. The frequency of heartburn, chest pain, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and belching was compared between the groups in the study sample and within three BMI categories. RESULTS: the IBS (23.7%) and controls (76.3%) were similar in gender (females: 68.1%), age (32.2 +/- 12.7 years), and BMI (25.4 +/- 4.4). Raw associations analysis showed that heartburn: OR: 1.62 (95%CI: 1.04-2.53), chest pain: 1.77 (1.13-2.77), epigastric pain: 1.75 (1.03-2.98) and nausea: 2.45 (1.10-5.32) were more frequent in IBS vs. controls. Meanwhile, according to BMI, in those with obesity, heartburn was more frequent in IBS and among those with overweight, epigastric pain and nausea were also more frequent in IBS. However, in an adjusted log linear model, no significant interaction was found between BMI and any other studied symptom and heartburn was found to be independent of IBS: 1,4 (0.9, 4.7). Finally, a logistic regression model found no interaction between BMI and the presence of heartburn or IBS. CONCLUSIONS: while heartburn and other reflux-related symptoms are more frequent in IBS than in controls, these associations are independent of BMI.

Heartburn and other related symptoms are independent of body mass index in irritable bowel syndrome

Background: increasing body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for GERD but little is known about this association in the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Aims: to determine the presence of heartburn and other related symptoms in relation with BMI in IBS. Methods: volunteers (n = 483) answered the Rome II-Modular Questionnaire, and were divided into IBS and non-IBS (controls) groups. The frequency of heartburn, chest pain, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting and belching was compared between the groups in the study sample and within three BMI categories. Results: the IBS (23.7%) and controls (76.3%) were similar in gender (females: 68.1%), age (32.2 ± 12.7 years), and BMI (25.4 ± 4.4). Raw associations analysis showed that heartburn: OR: 1.62 (95%CI: 1.04-2.53), chest pain: 1.77 (1.13-2.77), epigastric pain: 1.75 (1.03-2.98) and nausea: 2.45 (1.10-5.32) were more frequent in IBS vs. controls. Meanwhile, according to BMI, in those with obesity, heartburn was more frequent in IBS and among those with overweight, epigastric pain and nausea were also more frequent in IBS. However, in an adjusted log linear model, no significant interaction was found between BMI and any other studied symptom and heartburn was found to be independent of IBS: 1,4 (0.9, 4.7). Finally, a logistic regression model found no interaction between BMI and the presence of heartburn or IBS. Conclusions: while heartburn and other reflux-related symptoms are more frequent in IBS than in controls, these associations are independent of BMI(AU)

Effect of malnutrition during the first year of life on adult plasma insulin and glucose tolerance.

There is evidence linking intrauterine growth retardation with increased cardiovascular risk and diabetes mellitus (DM) later in life. However, little is known about the association between malnutrition during the first year of life and metabolic abnormalities in adulthood. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of documented malnutrition during the first year of life on glucose tolerance, plasma insulin, lipid profile, and blood pressure in early adulthood, as well as to assess the interaction between body mass index (BMI) and malnutrition on these variables. A study group of young men with a documented history of malnutrition during their first year of life was recruited from 4 pediatric hospitals in Mexico City and compared with a control group. Subjects included were 52 men, aged 20.2 +/- 3.6 years, with a mean birth weight of 3.0 +/- 0.7 kg and documented malnutrition in their first year of life; controls were 50 men, aged 23.3 +/- 1.8 years, with a mean birth weight of 3.2 +/- 0.5 kg. Insulin and glucose concentrations, fasting and in response to an oral glucose load, plasma lipids, blood pressure, and an insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were measured. The areas under the curves of glucose (AUCG) and insulin (AUCI) were significantly higher in cases (P =.012 and <.002, respectively), independent of birth weight, BMI, or age. BMI was significantly associated with fasting plasma insulin (FPI), AUCI, ISI, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentrations in cases, but not in controls. These data suggest that early malnutrition in extrauterine life, independently of birth weight, has an adverse effect on insulin metabolism and glucose tolerance in young men, and it worsens as body mass increases even within the normal range of BMI. Therefore, it is advisable to prevent obesity in individuals exposed to early malnutrition.

Insulin resistance and abdominal adiposity in young men with documented malnutrition during the first year of life.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the study was to examine the effect of early life malnutrition on the relation between insulin sensitivity and abdominal adiposity in adulthood. It was hypothesised that participants with early life malnutrition would display a more pronounced deterioration of insulin sensitivity in association with a gain in abdominal fat. DESIGN: As a first attempt to investigate this issue, we studied the effect of body fat gains in a cross-sectional context. SUBJECTS: A total of 26 young adult men with evidence of malnutrition during the first year of life and 27 control subjects were recruited for this study. Malnutrition status was determined from medical files of paediatric hospitals in the Mexico City metropolitan area. MEASUREMENTS: Insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp, and body composition was measured by anthropometrics, bioelectrical impedance and computed tomography. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between total abdominal adipose tissue area and insulin sensitivity in the previously malnourished and control groups (r(2)=0.65 and 0.35, P<0.01, respectively). When matched for low amounts of abdominal fat (114 cm(2)), participants with and without early life malnutrition had similar insulin sensitivity (9.03 vs 8.88 mg kg(-1) x min(-1)). However, when matched for high amounts of abdominal fat (310 cm(2)) participants who were malnourished during the first year of life had lower insulin sensitivity (4.74 vs 6.85 mg kg(-1) x min(-1), P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher levels of abdominal adipose tissue are more detrimental to insulin sensitivity in previously malnourished individuals.

[Reproducibility and sensitivity of a questionnaire on physical activity in a Mexican population]. / Reproducibilidad y sensibilidad de un cuestionario de actividad física en población mexicana.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reproducibility and sensitivity of a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ) developed at Laval University, to detect differences in lean and obese individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Mexico's National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, between January and May 1999. The PAQ was translated into Spanish and adjusted to the Mexican setting. The test-retest method was used to measure reliability, allowing a four-week interval between tests (n = 30 overweight subjects). To assess the questionnaire's sensitivity a group of young cadets (n = 18) was compared to a group of young civilians (n = 32). Concordance was measured through the intraclass correlation coefficient; test-retest was analyzed using the paired or unpaired Student's t test, as necessary. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.86. The PAQ was able to show differences of more than 400 kcal/day (1674 kJ/day) and more than 4 kcal/kg/day (17 kJ/kg/day), among young people with high physical activity (t-test). CONCLUSIONS: The PAQ is a sensitive and reliable instrument that can be used in the Mexican population. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html

[Migration from a rural zone to an urban one is associated with android distribution of body fat in obese women]. / La migración de zona rural a urbana se asocia con la distribución androide de grasa corporal en mujeres obesas.

INTRODUCTION: Studies about migration to industrialized countries have shown an increased prevalence of diabetes, obesity and dyslipidaemias, all of them related to android body fat distribution. Migration status might be influence body fat distribution but it has not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between body fat distribution and migration from rural to urban areas in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This sequential sample of 433 women were seen in the outpatient obesity clinic of four federal states: Tabasco (n = 81), Mexico City (n = 166), Coahuila (n = 80), and Yucatan (n = 106). Migration history from rural to urban area, familial history of diabetes, ages of onset of obesity, height and weight circumferences were obtained. A regression logistic model was used and maintained as dependent variable body fat distribution. Age and federal state were considered as confounders and they adjusted the model. RESULTS: Migrating women from rural to urban area were 121 (27.9%). The waist circumference was higher in Tabasco (102.2 +/- 12 cm), and lesser in Yucatan (93.6 +/- 15 cm, p < 0.001); no differences were found for hip circumference. The logistic regression model showed that body fat distribution is associated to migration from rural to urban area, and also to diabetes of mother and age of onset of obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Migrating from rural to urban area is a risk factor for android body fat distribution and this risk increases with age, history of diabetes in mother and adulthood onset o obesity.

A preponderance of circulating basic isoforms is associated with decreased plasma half-life and biological to immunological ratio of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-releasable luteinizing hormone in obese men.

Hormonal abnormalities of the reproductive axis have been described in obesity. In men, extreme obesity is associated with low serum testosterone (T) and high estrogen [estrone and estradiol (E(2))] levels. As changes in the sex steroid milieu may profoundly affect the carbohydrate heterogeneity and thus some of the biological and physicochemical properties of the LH molecule, we analyzed the relative distribution of LH isoforms circulating under baseline conditions (endogenous GnRH drive) as well as the forms discharged by exogenous GnRH stimulation from putative acutely releasable and reserve pituitary pools in overweight men. Secondarily, we determined the impact of the changes in LH terminal glycosylation on the in vitro bioactivity and endogenous half-life of the gonadotropin. Seven obese subjects with body mass indexes ranging from 35.7-45.5 kg/m(2) and seven normal men with body mass indexes from 22.5-24.2 kg/m(2) underwent blood sampling at 10-min intervals for a total of 10 h before and after the iv administration of 10 and 90 microg GnRH. Basally released and exogenous GnRH-stimulated serum LH isoforms were separated by preparative chromatofocusing and identified by RIA of eluent fractions. Serum pools of successive samples collected across 2-h intervals (five serum pools per subject) containing LH released under baseline and exogenous GnRH-stimulated conditions were tested for bioactivity employing a homologous in vitro bioassay. Mean serum T and E(2) levels were significantly lower and higher, respectively, in the obese men than in the control group [serum T, 13.5 +/- 2.4 vs. 19.4 +/- 1.4 nmol/L (mean +/- SEM; P: = 0.01); serum E(2), 0.184 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.153 +/- 0.01 nmol/L (P: < 0.05)]. Mean baseline serum LH levels were similar in obese subjects and normal controls (13.3 +/- 1.3 and 12.2 +/- 1.2 IU/L). Although multiple parameter deconvolution of the exogenous GnRH-induced LH pulses revealed that the magnitude of the pituitary response in terms of secretory burst mass, secretory amplitude, and half-duration of the LH pulses was similar in obese and control subjects, the apparent endogenous half-life of LH was significantly (P: < 0.05) shorter in the obese group (98 +/- 11 min) than in the normal controls (132 +/- 10 min). Under all conditions studied, the relative abundance of basic isoforms (those with pH >/=7.0) was significantly (P: < 0.05) increased in the obese subjects compared with the controls (percentages of LH immunoactivity recovered at pH >/=7.0: obese subjects, 34-57%; normal controls, 22-46%). The biological to immunological ratio of LH released in baseline and low dose (10 microg) GnRH-stimulated conditions were similar in obese subjects and normal controls, whereas LH released by obese subjects in response to the high (90 microg) GnRH dose exhibited significantly lower ratios than those detected in normal individuals (0.62 +/- 0.07 and 0.45 +/- 0.09 vs. 1.01 +/- 0.10 and 0.81 +/- 0.09 for LH released within 10-120 min and 130-240 min after GnRH administration in obese and controls, respectively; P: < 0.05). Collectively, these results indicate that the altered sex steroid hormone milieu characteristic of extreme obesity provokes a selective increase in the release of less acidic LH isoforms, which may potentially modify the intensity and duration of the blood LH signal delivered to the gonad. Altered glycosylation of LH may therefore represent an additional mechanism modulating the hypogonadal state prevailing in morbid obesity.

[Diagnosis of malignant and benign insulinoma. Experience of the National Institute of Nutrition]. / Diagnóstico de insulinomas malignos y benignos. Experiencia en el Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición.

INTRODUCTION: Insulinomas are uncommon tumors, their incidence is approximately one case for 1 million population per year. OBJECTIVE: To expose our experience in the diagnosis of these tumors at the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubirán. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with histologic diagnosis of insulinoma were reviewed; the period was from 1959 to 1996. The methods used for diagnosis and localization as well as the clinical picture according to the benignity or malignity of the tumor were registered. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were included, four of them with malignant tumors. In two patients islet cell tumors occurred in association with MEN type I, one of them benign and the other malignant. The mean age of patients with benign tumor was 38.2 +/- 13.5 years, in those with malignant tumors it was 51.5 +/- 16.2 years. The median period between symptoms and diagnosis was 34.4 +/- 15 months for benign tumors and 6 +/- 1.1 months for those with malignant tumors (p = 0.02). Patients with increasing weight had benign tumors. The 24 hours fasting test was not done in patients with malignant tumors because of the severity of hypoglycemia. The insulin/glucose ratio in patients with a malignant tumor was 5.2 +/- 4.7, while in patients with a benign tumor it was 1.82 +/- 1.7. The imaging studies showed that three patients with malignant tumors had hepatic metastasis and one had lymph node metastasis. The low accuracy of localization by radiological methods is due to the size of the tumor (> 2 cm). CONCLUSIONS: Malignant insulinomas are more aggressive and the delay of diagnosis is shorter that in cases with benign tumors. Selective arteriography remains the best preoperative localization procedure.

The prevalence of obesity and its determinants in urban and rural aging Mexican populations.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of obesity and its association to different variables in urban and rural older Mexican populations. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A cross-sectional study of three different Mexican communities. A total of 121 men and 223 women 60 years and older and 93 men and 180 women aged 35 to 59 years old were selected randomly for inclusion in the survey. A personal interview assessed demographic information, personal medical history and functional status and a 24-hour diet recall was obtained. The physical examination included anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. A fasting blood sample was obtained for measurements of lipids, insulin and glucose. RESULTS: Obesity was highly prevalent in women, in individuals from the urban communities and diminished with advancing age. A BMI > or =30 kg/m2 was observed in 23.6% younger vs. 15.6% older adult men (p=0.21) and 28.4% younger vs. 19.7% older adult women (p = 0.06). The association of obesity with other variables was estimated using a stepwise multivariate logistic regression, increased insulin levels [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.68, p=0.006] and living in an urban area (OR 5.90, p<0.007) were variables independently associated to obesity in adult older individuals. In the younger adults, obesity was associated with hypertension (OR 2.74, p<0.0009), higher insulin levels (OR 1.31, p<0.03) and central adiposity (OR 2.97, p = 0.05), these relationship were not observed with gender, distribution of food or alcohol intake or other coronary risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The present survey confirms the high prevalence of obesity in the Mexican urban population that declines with advanced age. Studies in elderly population must consider the bias produced by increased early mortality in those individuals with a more unfavorable risk profile.

Acarbose vs. bedtime NPH insulin in the treatment of secondary failures to sulphonylurea-metformin therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of acarbose in the treatment of secondary failures to sulphonylurea-metformin therapy, its comparison against bedtime NPH insulin, and to measure the changes in postprandial metabolism resulting from both treatments. METHODS: One hundred type 2 diabetic patients in a secondary failure were included. The study begun with a run-in diet period of 6 weeks, in which an isocaloric diet was prescribed. Only subjects who continued hyperglycaemic were randomly assigned to placebo and acarbose (n = 17) or bedtime NPH insulin (n = 12). Acarbose (300 mg/day) or placebo were administered using a randomized, double blind, crossover design. Treatment periods of 3 months were separated by a 3-week washout period. Insulin was administered during 3 months. At the beginning and the end of each treatment period, an i.v. glucose tolerance test and a meal test were performed. Safety tests were done every 4 weeks. RESULTS: Acarbose resulted in a small but significant improvement in fasting plasma glucose (13.5 +/- 2.4 vs. 11.3 +/- 3.9 mmol/l, p = 0.05), HbA1c (11.1 +/- 3.4 vs. 10.3 +/- 2.5%, P = 0.3) and in a decreased plasma glucose during the meal test. Bedtime insulin significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (13.1 +/- 2.9 vs. 8.2 +/- 2.3 mmol/l, p < 0.01), HbA1c (11.7 +/- 2.9 vs. 9.4 +/- 2.7%, p < 0.01) and plasma cholesterol. No change in insulin secretion resulted from insulin and acarbose treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Acarbose decreases blood glucose in secondary failure to sulphonylurea-metformin therapy; however, the decrease is not enough to reach the desired metabolic control. Bedtime NPH insulin is, by far, a more effective alternative.

Lack of agreement between the World Health Organization Category of impaired glucose tolerance and the American Diabetes Association category of impaired fasting glucose.

OBJECTIVE: To study the concordance between the 1997 American Diabetes Association (ADA) impaired fasting glucose (IFG) category with the World Health Organization (WHO) impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) status in a population with a high prevalence of diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed the oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) carried out at the Instituto Nacional de la Nutrición Salvador Zubiran (INNSZ) central laboratory from June to December 1997. We included patients with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) between 60 and 160 mg/dl. The results from the glucose tolerance test were selected as the gold standard. RESULTS: Among the 1,802 glucose tolerance test results available for analysis, 1,706 fulfilled the requirements to be included. Diabetes and IGT were remarkably more frequently diagnosed when the WHO criteria were applied. The new ADA criteria failed to diagnose 69% of WHO diabetic patients and the vast majority of WHO glucose-intolerant subjects. Using the new criteria, 82% were considered normal. Of the IFG subjects, 39% were classified as diabetic and 23% were normal according to the 2-h postchallenge glucose values. Only 37% of the IFG patients were, in fact, glucose intolerant according to the WHO criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Our results clearly show that the 1997 ADA criteria are less sensitive for diagnosing diabetes than OGTT-based WHO criteria. Even more important, there is poor agreement between the WHO category of IGT and the ADA category of IFG.

Effect of major improvement in glycemic control on results of cardiovascular function tests in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of major improvement in glycemic control on cardiovascular function tests in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). METHODS: Eight men with chronic, poorly controlled IDDM (serum fructosamine >300 mmol/L and mean fasting blood glucose >200 mg/dL), who were 24 +/- 6 years of age and had a mean duration of diabetes of 8 +/- 1 years, were studied. No patient had microalbuminuria, was taking medication other than insulin, or had evidence of heart disease. Patients underwent baseline continuous ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, echocardiographic studies, and cardiovascular autonomic function tests, which were repeated after 4 weeks of an intensified insulin treatment program (IITP), during which they reached and maintained blood glucose concentrations and serum fructosamine levels in near-normal, nondiabetic ranges. RESULTS: Substantial changes in glycemic control had no significant influence on results of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, cardiovascular autonomic function tests, and echocardiographic studies. CONCLUSION: Major improvement in glycemic control during a 1-month period in patients with IDDM had no significant influence on cardiovascular function tests. We cannot exclude the possibility that, after a longer duration of an IITP or in patients with clinically evident heart disease or evidence of major complications of diabetes, different responses might be observed.

[99m-Tc alendronate as a new option in bone gammagraphy]. / El 99mTc-alendronato como nueva opción en la gammagrafía ósea.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the quality of bone scans obtained with 99mTc-ABP, a new radiopharmaceutical, and 99mTc-MDP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A comparative study within subjects was done in nine healthy volunteers, 5 female and 4 male, aged 23 to 39 years. The dose for both radiopharmaceuticals was 740 MBq; radiopharmacokinetic parameters were determined and a whole body bone scan was taken with a MultiSpect 2 gamma camera two hours post administration with a wash-out period of 72 hours between preparations. The images were independently evaluated by three nuclear medicine physicians by drawing of regions of interest (ROIs) on vertebrae, ribs, femur, sternum, joints and skull. Ratios bone/soft tissue were obtained drawing ROIs on several bones. The kappa test and the Wilcoxon rank test were used for statistical comparisons. RESULTS: The agreement on the quality of the images with Tc-ABP and Tc-MDP was fair (kappa 0.4). The femur/soft tissue ratio had a normal distribution and the Wilcoxon test showed no statistical difference between preparations. CONCLUSIONS: Even though bone uptake was higher and faster with Tc-ABP, the quality of the scans obtained with either radiopharmaceutical was similar. We recommend the use of Tc-ABP as a routine bone scan agent because of its less radiation exposure to the patient.