[Influence of climatic factors on the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding]. / Influencia de los factores climáticos en la incidencia de hemorragia digestiva alta.

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have suggested the existence of seasonal variation in the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB). However, the role of climatic factors has not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of these factors in the incidence of UGB secondary to esophageal varices (EV), gastric ulcer (GU), and duodenal ulcer (DU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on the use of the Minimum Data Set and the International Classification of Diseases, cases of endoscopically-confirmed UGB secondary to EV, GU and DU were retrospectively included (1998-2001). The incidence of UGB was correlated with daily climatic factors (temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, direction and speed of wind) in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) during the study period. RESULTS: A total of 499 patients were included (GU = 192, DU = 199, EV = 108). No significant differences were found in the monthly or seasonal incidence of UGB. Episodes of UGB were grouped according to the climatic conditions present on the day of admission. No significant relationship was found between UGB and any of the daily climatic factors studied. DISCUSSION: The results of our study do not support the existence of a seasonal pattern in the incidence of UGB secondary to GU, DU or EV and allow us to conclude that, in our geographical area, these factors are not involved in episodes of bleeding.

Influencia de los factores climáticos en la incidencia de hemorragia digestiva alta / Influence of climatic factors on the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Objetivos: La presencia de un patrón estacional en la incidencia de hemorragia digestiva alta (HDA) ha sido sugerida en numerosos trabajos, pero la implicación de factores climáticos aún no ha podido ser aclarada. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar el papel de estos factores en la incidencia de HDA secundaria a varices esofágicas (VE), úlcera gástrica (UG) y úlcera duodenal (UD). Material y métodos: Se incluyeron de forma retrospectiva (1998-2001) los casos de hemorragia digestiva alta comprobada endoscópicamente y secundaria a VE, UG y UD, mediante el empleo del Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos al Alta y la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades. Se correlacionó su incidencia con los factores climáticos diarios (temperatura, presión atmosférica, humedad, dirección y velocidad del viento) presentes en nuestra ciudad durante el período de estudio. Resultados: Se incluyeron 499 pacientes (UG, 192; UD, 199; VE, 108). No se constataron diferencias significativas en la incidencia mensual o estacional de la HDA. Los episodios de HDA fueron agrupados según las características climáticas presentes el día del ingreso. La correlación realizada entre los episodios de HDA y cada uno de los factores climáticos diarios estudiados no puso de manifiesto una asociación estadísticamente significativa. Discusión: Nuestro trabajo no apoya la existencia de un determinado patrón estacional en la incidencia de HDA secundaria a úlceras gastroduodenales o varices esofágicas y nos permite afirmar que, en nuestra área geográfica, los factores climáticos no están implicados en modo alguno con la aparición de los episodios de sangrado

Objectives: Several studies have suggested the existence of seasonal variation in the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGB). However, the role of climatic factors has not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of these factors in the incidence of UGB secondary to esophageal varices (EV), gastric ulcer (GU), and duodenal ulcer (DU). Material and methods: Based on the use of the Minimum Data Set and the International Classification of Diseases, cases of endoscopically-confirmed UGB secondary to EV, GU and DU were retrospectively included (1998-2001). The incidence of UGB was correlated with daily climatic factors (temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, direction and speed of wind) in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain) during the study period. Results: A total of 499 patients were included (GU = 192, DU = 199, EV = 108). No significant differences were found in the monthly or seasonal incidence of UGB. Episodes of UGB were grouped according to the climatic conditions present on the day of admission. No significant relationship was found between UGB and any of the daily climatic factors studied. Discussion: The results of our study do not support the existence of a seasonal pattern in the incidence of UGB secondary to GU, DU or EV and allow us to conclude that, in our geographical area, these factors are not involved in episodes of bleeding

Efecto de dos antioxidantes en la supervivencia, las actividades neurológicas y la función mitocondrial de ratones senescentes / Effect of two antioxidants on survival, neurological activities and mitochondrial function in senescent mice

Objetivos: valorar la influencia de tratamientos crónicos con los antioxidantes vitamina E y tioprolina en: a) la supervivencia de ratones; b) la actividad neurológica de los animales envejecidos, y c) la disminución de actividades enzimáticas mitocondriales y el daño oxidativo mitocondrial asociados al proceso de envejecimiento. Material y método: los ratones recibieron desde la semana 28 de vida, y durante toda su vida, una suplementación en la dieta de vitamina E (5 g de acetato de dl-*-tocoferol/kg de comida) o de tioprolina (2 g de l-4-ácido tiazolidín carboxílico/kg de comida). Para evaluar la actividad neurológica los ratones se sometieron cada 2 semanas a 2 pruebas de comportamiento. En mitocondrias aisladas de cerebro se determinó el daño oxidativo, medido como proteínas o lípidos oxidados, así como por disminución de las actividades enzimáticas NADH-citocromo c reductasa, succinato-citocromo c reductasa, citocromo oxidasa y óxido nítrico sintasa mitocondrial (mtNOS). Resultados: la expectativa de vida de los ratones macho aumentó después de la suplementación con vitamina E en un 34-34% (vida media y longevidad máxima, respectivamente), y después de la suplementación con tioprolina en un 33-24%. La vitamina E y la tioprolina fueron efectivas en la disminución de los marcadores mitocondriales de daño oxidativo (TBARS y carbonilos proteínicos), y en el retardo de la disminución de las actividades enzimáticas y neurológicas asociadas al envejecimiento. Conclusiones: las actividades enzimáticas de mtNOS, NADH deshidrogenasa y citocromo oxidasa pueden usarse como indicadores de tratamientos efectivos del déficit neurológico asociado al envejecimiento

Aims: the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of chronic treatments with the antioxidants vitamin E and thioproline on: 1) survival in mice; 2) the neurological activities of aged animals; and 3) the decreased mitochondrial enzymatic activities and oxidative damage associated with the ageing process. Material and method: mice received food supplemented with vitamin E (5 g dl-*-tocopherol acetate/kg of food) or with thioproline l-4-thioproline/kg (2 g l-4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid/kg of food) from 28 weeks of age and during their entire lifespan. To evaluate neurological activity the animals underwent two behavioural tests every 15 days from weeks 28 to 76 of age. Oxidative damage to isolated brain mitochondria was evaluated by determining protein and lipid oxidation products and mitochondrial enzyme activities: NADH-cytochrome c reductase, succinate-cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome oxidase, and mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase (mtNOS). Results: lifespan was increased in male mice by 34-34% (mean and maximal lifespan, respectively) after supplementation with 5 g vitamin E/kg food and by 33-24% (mean and maximal lifespan, respectively) after supplementation with 2 g thioproline/kg food. Vitamin E and thioproline were effective in decreasing the level of markers of oxidative damage (TBARS and protein carbonyls) in isolated mitochondria and in delaying the decreases in mitochondrial enzyme activities and the loss of neurological function associated with ageing. Conclusions: the activities of mtNOS, NADH dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase can be used as indicators of the effectiveness of treatments for age-dependent neurological impairment

Skeletal muscle and aging.

Age-related changes in muscle mass (sarcopenia) and functional properties are the result of a very complex hierarchical system of basic cell aging processes and cell adaptive responses. A basic aging mechanism pertains to mitochondrial production of free radicals and their associated secondary effects. From this basic aging mechanism many other cellular changes can be explained as direct effects or compensatory changes. Altered skeletal muscle cell biochemical and functional properties during aging resulting from intrinsic mechanisms and from changes in hormonal or local signals that influence phenotype maintenance, are reviewed. The effect of skeletal muscle cell senescence on the cellular response to exercise, and the effect of dietary restriction on muscle cell senescence can also be explored from this perspective.

Matrix vesicles and focal proteoglycan aggregates are the nucleation sites revealed by the lanthanum incubation method: a correlated study on the hypertrophic zone of the rat epiphyseal cartilage.

Correlated studies were performed with light and electron microscopy, and backscattered electron image in conjunction with X-ray microanalysis, of lanthanum-incubated epiphyseal cartilage of the young rat. The hall-mark of this procedure is the appearance of LaP electron-dense deposits (not present in control sections) in precise sites of the hypertrophic zone. The ultrastructural study revealed a dual nature of these sites: "dense matrix vesicles" and "focal filament aggregates". The dense matrix vesicles are a specific type of matrix vesicle with the intrinsic capacity of precipitating LaP mineral, as soon as they originate from the hypertrophic chondrocytes. Furthermore, the matrix vesicles were found to be heterogeneous because lanthanum-devoid, "light matrix vesicles" were also present. The focal filament aggregates, which were not recognized in unstained sections and in controls, are apparently focal concentrations of proteoglycans with high lanthanum binding capacity, although the presence in them of other components (e.g., type X collagen, C-propeptide of type II collagen) cannot be excluded. The were in close connection with the light matrix vesicles in the upper hypertrophic zone, and were loaded with a variable quantity of LaP irregular electron-dense deposits in the lower hypertrophic zone. These irregular deposits are similar to, but distinct from, calcification nodules. The lanthanum incubation method indirectly detects the matrix Ca-binding components (which bind La ions), and the calcification initiation sites (which precipitate a LaP-mineral phase). A sequence is proposed of successive steps of LaP nucleation within the focal filament aggregates, which possibly mimics calcium phosphate deposition. Such a sequence seems to require the participation not only of dense matrix vesicles, but also of the filamentous components of the focal aggregates, possibly together with the activity of alkaline phosphatase.