Changes in phenolic compounds and Rancimat stability of olive oils from varieties of olives at different stages of ripeness.

BACKGROUND: Recently, diets rich in natural foods and food-derived components, such as phenolic compounds, have received a great deal of attention because they are perceived as 'safe' and 'non-medicinal'. In fact, some are known to function as chemopreventive agents against oxidative damage, cerebrovascular disease, and aging. RESULTS: Phenolic compounds, natural antioxidants present in virgin olive oil, play an important role in oil quality by contributing significantly to protecting oil stability against oxidation. In addition, polyphenols are the main contributors to olive oil bitterness, astringency and pungency. The data were fit by linear regression, giving Rancimat stability (h) = 0.18× Total polyphenols (mg L(-1)) in the virgin olive oil. CONCLUSIONS: The practice of harvesting ripe olives as soon as possible to produce oils of high phenolic contents and thus high oxidative stability implies bitter and piquant oils, this being admissible for oils of some varieties but detrimental to others appreciated in the market for being more fruity and sweeter.

A multicenter randomized trial evaluating posaconazole versus fluconazole for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in subjects with HIV/AIDS.

BACKGROUND: Oropharyngeal candidiasis is the most common opportunistic infection among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Use of some agents is hampered by lack of efficacy, emergence of resistance, adverse events, and need for intravenous administration. Posaconazole is an extended-spectrum triazole with potent in vitro activity against Candida species, including Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei (including fluconazole-resistant strains). METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blinded study of subjects with HIV infection and oropharyngeal candidiasis compared efficacy of posaconazole with that of fluconazole. Subjects received either 200 mg of posaconazole or fluconazole oral suspension on day 1, followed by 100 mg/day for 13 days. The primary study end point--clinical success (cure or improvement) on day 14--was evaluated for 329 subjects. Durability of clinical success was evaluated on day 42. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty subjects received posaconazole (n = 178) or fluconazole (n = 172). Clinical success occurred in 155 (91.7%) of 169 posaconazole recipients and in 148 (92.5%) of 160 fluconazole recipients (95% confidence interval, -6.61% to 5.04%), indicating that posaconazole was not inferior to fluconazole. On day 14, mycological success was 68% in both arms, but by day 42, significantly more posaconazole recipients than fluconazole recipients continued to have mycological success (40.6% vs. 26.4%; P=.038). Fewer posaconazole recipients than fluconazole recipients experienced clinical relapse (31.5% vs. 38.2%). Adverse events were similar between treatment arms. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that posaconazole was as effective as fluconazole in producing a successful clinical outcome. However, posaconazole was more effective in sustaining clinical success after treatment was stopped.

[Mortality from suicides: Mexico, 1990-2001]. / La mortalidad por suicidios: México 1990-2001.

OBJECTIVE: To describe mortality from suicides in Mexico in 2001, as well as the main changes in the methods used to commit suicide and in trends by age and gender that have been observed since 1990, both for the country as a whole and for each state. METHODS: For this descriptive study we utilized as information sources the official mortality records of the National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática) for the period of 1990 through 2001. To calculate mortality rates we used the populations estimated in 2002 by the National Population Council (Consejo Nacional de Población). Mortality was described by sex, age group, and state, along with the changes seen over the period of 1990 through 2001 in the rates and methods of suicide. We used the direct method to standardize the rates, using as a reference the population data for the year 2000. To make statistical comparisons of the trends by age group and gender we used a test of parallelism utilizing the F statistic. The level of statistical significance of differences in suicide methods was determined with the chi-square test. RESULTS: During 2001, 3,784 suicides were registered (3,110 of them in men and 674 in women), which represents a rate of 3.72 deaths from suicide per 100,000 persons, in a total national population of 101.8 million inhabitants. The states with the highest suicide mortality were Campeche and Tabasco (9.68 and 8.47 per 100,000, respectively). The lowest rates were seen in Chiapas and the state of Mexico (1.03 and 1.99 per 100,000, respectively). In 2001, mortality from suicides per 100,000 persons was 6.14 in men and 1.32 in women. The greatest increase by age group was seen in women 11-19 years old (from 0.8 per 100,000 in 1990 to 2.27 per 100,000 in 2001). The largest increase in men also occurred among those 11-19 years old (from 2.6 per 100,000 in 1990 to 4.5 per 100,000 in 2001). The highest rate (13.62 per 100,000 persons) was seen in men over 65 years of age. There were changes in suicide methods, with hanging now being the method most frequently used by both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Suicide is a growing problem in Mexico, and controlling it requires immediate steps. The rapid increase in this phenomenon, particularly among young men and young women, should produce a call to action to quickly implement measures aimed at reducing the magnitude of suicide.

La mortalidad por suicidios: México 1990-2001 / Mortality from suicides: Mexico, 1990-2001

OBJETIVO: Describir la mortalidad por suicidios en México en 2001, así como los principales cambios en los métodos de suicidio y en la estructura por edades y sexos que se han presentado desde 1990, tanto a escala nacional como por entidad federativa. MÉTODOS: Para este estudio descriptivo se utilizaron como fuentes de información los registros oficiales de mortalidad del Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática para el período de 1990 a 2001. Para calcular las tasas de mortalidad se usaron las poblaciones estimadas por el Consejo Nacional de Población en 2002. Se describieron la mortalidad por sexo, por grupo de edad y por entidad federativa, así como los cambios observados en el período de 1990¡ 2001 en las tasas y los métodos de suicidio. Para estandarizar las tasas se empleó el método directo, y como estándar se tomaron los datos de población del año 2000. Las comparaciones estadísticas de las tendencias según el grupo de edad y el sexo se llevaron a cabo mediante una prueba de paralelismo utilizando el estadígrafo F. El nivel de significación estadística de las diferencias en los métodos de suicidio se determinó mediante la prueba de ji al cuadrado. RESULTADOS: Durante el año 2001 se registraron 3 784 suicidios (3 110 de ellos en hombres y 674 en mujeres), lo que representa una tasa de 3,72 muertes por suicidios por cada 100 000 habitantes, en una población total nacional de 101,8 millones de habitantes. Los estados con mayor mortalidad por suicidios fueron Campeche y Tabasco (9,68 y 8,47 por 100 000 habitantes, respectivamente). Las menores tasas se observaron en Chiapas y el Estado de México (1,03 y 1,99 por 100 000 habitantes, respectivamente). En 2001, la mortalidad por suicidios por 100 000 habitantes fue de 6,14 en hombres y de 1,32 en mujeres. El mayor incremento por grupo de edad se observó en las mujeres de 11¡19 años (de 0,8 en 1990 a 2,27 por 100 000 personas en 2001). En los hombres, el aumento más pronunciado se observó en el grupo de 11¡19 años (de 2,6 en 1990 a 4,5 por 100 000 personas en 2001). La tasa más alta (13,62 por 100 000 personas) se observó en los hombres de más de 65 años. Se observaron cambios en los métodos de suicidio, y el ahorcamiento es el medio más frecuentemente utilizado actualmente tanto por hombres como por mujeres. CONCLUSIONES: El suicidio es un problema creciente cuyo control exige acciones inmediatas. El incremento acelerado de este fenómeno...

A safety study of oral valganciclovir maintenance treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis.

Valganciclovir, an oral prodrug of the anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) agent ganciclovir, was evaluated in a single-arm open-label safety study. AIDS patients (median CD4 lymphocyte count of 140 cells/microL) with treated CMV retinitis (N = 212) received 900-mg once-daily valganciclovir maintenance therapy with courses of 900-mg twice-daily valganciclovir induction therapy as needed to treat progression. After a median treatment duration of 372 days, the adverse event profile was similar to that reported for intravenous (IV) and oral ganciclovir. Adverse event rates of note were diarrhea (35%), nausea (23%), fever (18%), neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count <500 cells/microL) (10%), and anemia (hemoglobin <8.0 g/dL) (12%). Consistent with prior treatment studies of oral ganciclovir, IV catheter-related adverse events were uncommon (6%) and lower than previously reported for IV ganciclovir. The mortality rate was 0.072 deaths per patient-year. Progression of CMV retinitis occurred in 17% of patients during the study treatment period, usually in association with a low CD4 cell count. Other than a higher than expected frequency of oral candidiasis (17%), no clinical toxicities or laboratory abnormalities occurred during treatment with valganciclovir that have not been observed during treatment with ganciclovir.

Péptidos auriculares: un enfoque funcional / Atrial peptides: a functional approach

Desde hace mucho tiempo se ha reconocido que la dilatación auricular da como resultado natriuresis, y esto ha llevado al aislmiento de un pépitido vasodilatador poderoso y natriurético a partir de extractos auriculares. Habiendo-se determinado su secuencia de DNA y aminoácidos, su mecanismo de acción siegue iendo controversial. Este péptido, llamado factor natriurético auricular (FNA), parece promover la natriuresis por aumento de la tasa de filtración glomerular (TFG); también inhibe la producción de aldosterona y la secreción de renina. Por esto, el FNA funciona como un antagonista endógeno al sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona. Debido a su considerable potencia, probablemente tenga un papel significativo en la homeostasis cardiovascular. El FNA o algún derivado sintético podrían llegar a ser utilizados en la clínica