[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the province of Albacete (Spain)]. / Prevalencia del síndrome metabólico en la provincia de Albacete.

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in people between 40-70 years of age in the province of Albacete (Spain). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional study was made of people between 40-70 years of age in three representative municipalities of the province of Albacete. A total of 425 subjects were included, with a mean age of 53.1 years (95% CI: 52.3-54). Women represented 50.4% of the series and males 49.6%. All participants were subjected to general laboratory testing, physical examination and the measurement of anthropometric parameters. MS was defined according to the ATP-III criteria. Prevalence of MS and its distribution according to the different epidemiological characteristics were calculated. RESULTS: Total prevalence of MS was 20.9% (88/421), with a mean age of 57 years (95% CI: 55.1-59). Prevalence was seen to increase with age, reaching up to one-third of all subjects over 60 years. Significant differences were observed in relationship to a background of ischemic heart disease, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein elevation and the detection of microalbuninuria in MS subjects. Arterial hypertension and abdominal obesity were the most prevalent criteria in MS subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into consideration the important co-morbidity of MS, knowledge of the prevalence and characteristics of the syndrome in our setting and its early identification and intervention targeted to the different factors underlying MS will contribute to reduce the number of cardiovascular events associated with the syndrome.

Prevalencia del síndrome metabólico en la provincia de Albacete / Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the province of Albacete (Spain)

Objetivo. El objetivo principal del estudio es determinar la prevalencia del síndrome metabólico (SM) en personas entre 40 y 70 años en la provincia de Albacete. Pacientes y métodos. Se trata de un estudio transversal poblacional en personas entre 40 y 70 años en tres municipios representativos de la provincia de Albacete. La participación total del estudio fue de 425 individuos. La edad media de la muestra fue de 53,1 años (intervalo de confianza [IC] 95%: 52,3-54), con un 50,4% de mujeres y un 49,6% de hombres. A todos los participantes se les realizó una analítica general y una exploración física con medición de parámetros antropométricos. El SM se definió según los criterios del Adult Treatment Panel-III (ATP-III). En el análisis estadístico se calculó la prevalencia del SM, así como su distribución según sus características epidemiológicas. Resultados. La prevalencia total del SM fue del 20,9% (88/421), con una edad media de 57 años (IC 95%: 55,1-59). Su prevalencia aumenta con la edad, siendo de hasta un tercio de la población mayor de 60 años. Por otra parte, se han encontrado diferencias significativas con antecedentes de cardiopatía isquémica, elevación de la proteína C reactiva ultrasensible y la detección de microalbuminuria en los pacientes con SM. La hipertensión arterial y la obesidad abdominal fueron los criterios más prevalentes en los pacientes con SM. Conclusiones. Teniendo en cuenta la importante comorbilidad que este síndrome conlleva, el conocimiento de su prevalencia y sus características en nuestro medio, así como su identificación y la intervención precoz sobre los distintos factores que la componen, contribuirían a una disminución de eventos cardiovasculares que se relacionan con este síndrome

Objective. The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in people between 40-70 years of age in the province of Albacete (Spain). Patients and methods. A population-based, cross-sectional study was made of people between 40-70 years of age in three representative municipalities of the province of Albacete. A total of 425 subjects were included, with a mean age of 53.1 years (95% CI: 52.3-54). Women represented 50.4% of the series and males 49.6%. All participants were subjected to general laboratory testing, physical examination and the measurement of anthropometric parameters. MS was defined according to the ATP-III criteria. Prevalence of MS and its distribution according to the different epidemiological characteristics were calculated. Results. Total prevalence of MS was 20.9% (88/421), with a mean age of 57 years (95% CI: 55.1-59). Prevalence was seen to increase with age, reaching up to one-third of all subjects over 60 years. Significant differences were observed in relationship to a background of ischemic heart disease, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein elevation and the detection of microalbuninuria in MS subjects. Arterial hypertension and abdominal obesity were the most prevalent criteria in MS subjects. Conclusions. Taking into consideration the important co-morbidity of MS, knowledge of the prevalence and characteristics of the syndrome in our setting and its early identification and intervention targeted to the different factors underlying MS will contribute to reduce the number of cardiovascular events associated with the syndrome

Síndrome metabólico y enfermedad arterial periférica / Metabolic syndrome and peripheral arterial disease

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Significado y utilidad diagnóstica de la eosinofilia en el derrame pleural / The significance and diagnostic usefulness of eosinophiliain pleural effusion

No disponible

Intoxicación familiar accidental por ingesta de Datura stramonium / Accidental familiar poisoning by Datura stramonium

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Enfermedad de Wilson y embarazo / Wilson's disease and pregnancy

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The biosynthetic gene cluster for the microtubule-stabilizing agents epothilones A and B from Sorangium cellulosum So ce90.

BACKGROUND: Epothilones are produced by the myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum So ce90, and, like paclitaxel (Taxol((R))), they inhibit microtubule depolymerisation and arrest the cell cycle at the G2-M phase. They are effective against P-glycoprotein-expressing multiple-drug-resistant tumor cell lines and are more water soluble than paclitaxel. The total synthesis of epothilones has been achieved, but has not provided an economically viable alternative to fermentation. We set out to clone, sequence and analyze the gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of the epothilones in S. cellulosum So ce90. RESULTS: A cluster of 22 open reading frames spanning 68,750 base pairs of the S. cellulosum So ce90 genome has been sequenced and found to encode nine modules of a polyketide synthase (PKS), one module of a nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), a cytochrome P450, and two putative antibiotic transport proteins. Disruptions in the genes encoding the PKS abolished epothilone production. The first PKS module and the NRPS module are proposed to co-operate in forming the thiazole heterocycle of epothilone from an acetate and a cysteine by condensation, cyclodehydration and subsequent dehydrogenation. The remaining eight PKS modules are responsible for the elaboration of the rest of the epothilone carbon skeleton. CONCLUSIONS: The overall architecture of the gene cluster responsible for epothilone biosynthesis has been determined. The availability of the cluster should facilitate the generation of designer epothilones by combinatorial biosynthesis approaches, and the heterologous expression of epothilones in surrogate microbial hosts.

Comparison of a manual and an automated enzymatic technique for determining blood lactate concentrations.

Although analysis of lactate concentrations with a Yellow Springs Instruments (YSI) automated analyzer has become very popular in Sports Medicine, the accuracy and reliability of this technique has not been carefully studied. Additionally, the influence of a common lysing agent Triton X-100 (TX) on blood lactate measurements has not been determined. Blood was collected from each of ten subjects at rest and 2, 6, 10, 14 and 20 minutes following maximal exercise (60 samples). Lactate concentration was measured by the YSI and Boehringer Mannheim (BMM) techniques. Two YSI 23L analyzers were supplied with buffer with TX (YSITX), and two without (YSINON) to permit comparisons of lysed and unlysed whole blood lactate levels over the physiological range. MANOVA analysis revealed a statistical difference (p less than .05) between duplicates only for one machine, and duplicates of that machine differed by less than 3%. Mean measurements between similarly prepared machines differed significantly for the NONTX machines, but only by less than 3%. Differences were significant between BMM and YSINON, but not between BMM and YSITX. Regression analysis indicated close agreement between BMM and YSITX (R2 = .99). There was a tendency for a large discrepancy between methods at resting concentrations.

Learning to count.

The "Learning to Count" is a microprocessor controlled device constructed to help teach a developmentally disabled individual to learn to count to ten. The device has ten buttons, each with two numerical seven-segment LED's displaying a random number 1 through 10. The game's objective is for the student to press the ten buttons in numerical order. A microprocessor and integrated circuits carry out the device's internal operations. The microprocessor controls the generation of the random numbers, the assigning of the random numbers to a button position, and the analysis of the button input. The integrated circuits transfer the information from the microprocessor to the displays and from the input buttons to the microprocessor.

The effects of sulphur gas and elemental sulphur dust deposition on Pinus contorta x Pinus banksiana: cell walls and water relations.

The bulk modulus of elasticity (E) for Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine) x Pinus banksiana (jack pine) hybrids was compared between a site (AI) close to a sour gas processing plant and a control site (AV). The mean bulk modulus of elasticity for branches from AI was 47.5 MPa vs 18.5 MPa for the control site (AV). Site AI had been exposed to S-gas emissions and large amounts of elemental S deposition and had an acidic soil (pH 4.0 at 10 cm depth). During 1981 the needles at AI had more aluminum and iron compared to those at AV (900 ppm vs 390 ppm AI in the 3-year-old needles). Mean leader growth was measured over a 3-year period and was observed to be greater at AI than AV (46+/-7 cm vs 29+/-9 cm for 1988). Histochemically, the needles at AI had higher phenol and lignin content than AV. These results suggest that the S-gas fumigation, S-dust deposition, plus increased concentrations of soluble aluminum and iron had altered the cell wall elastic properties resulting in altered water relations. The implications of this on leaf diffusive resistance and photosynthesis are discussed.

[Vaccination and serologic markers of hepatitis B virus infection]. / Vacunación y marcadores serológicos de infección por el virus de la hepatitis B.

As a result of the Decree regulating the use of the Hepatitis B vaccination having been repealed, the usefulness of the study of infection markers for said virus prior to vaccination has been reviewed. The significance of the presence of isolated infection markers (surface antigen and antibodies as opposed to the surface antigens and those of the core of the Hepatitis B virus), and a sequential type study is discussed. It is considered that vaccination must be recommended whenever it is not possible to demonstrate the simultaneous presence of the surface antigen and antibodies as opposed to the core antigen or said antibodies and those corresponding to the surface antigen.