Benefits of Chronic Administration of a Carbohydrate-Free Diet on Biochemical and Morphometric Parameters in a Rat Model of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome.

Carbohydrate intake restriction positively affects markers related to metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the effects of long-term carbohydrate-free diets (CFD) have yet to be studied. The main objective of this study was to report the effects on biochemical and morphometric parameters in a rat model of MS. Male Wistar rats were initially divided into two groups: the standard diet group (SD, n = 20); and the MS group (n = 30) fed a high-glucose diet. Ten animals from each group were sacrificed after 20 weeks on their respective diets to verify MS development. The remaining MS animals were divided into two subgroups: one continued with the MS diet (n = 10); and the other transitioned to a carbohydrate-free diet (MS + CFD group, n = 10) for 20 more weeks. At week 40, parameters, including glucose, insulin, lipid profile, ketone bodies, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urea, creatinine, liver and muscle glycogen, and serum, hepatic, renal, and pancreatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed. Transitioning to CFD resulted in decreased caloric intake and body weight, with normalized parameters including MDA, insulin, lipid profile, ALT, liver glycogen, creatinine, and CRP levels. This shift effectively reversed the MS-induced alterations, except for glycemia and uremia, likely influenced by the diet's high protein content stimulating gluconeogenesis. This research underscores the potential benefits of long-term carbohydrate restriction in mitigating MS-related markers.

Cytotoxic and Antitumor Effects of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Tagetes erecta in Lung Cancer Cells.

Among all cancers, lung cancer is the one with the highest mortality rate, and it also has limited therapeutics. Antitumor agents based on medicinal plants have gained importance as a source of bioactive substances. Tagetes erecta is a plant of great cultural value, and recent reports have suggested its cytotoxic effects in tumor cells. Our objective was to evaluate the antitumor activity of Tagetes erecta extract in a lung carcinoma model. Hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained from fresh flowers and leaves of T. erecta; both extracts did not exert toxicity on Artemia salina. We observed cytotoxic effects induced by the floral extract in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and breast tumor cell line (MCF7), but not by the leaf extract. In vivo, a xenograft lung carcinoma model was performed with LLC cells implanted on C57BL/6 mice, which showed that the floral extract reduced tumor growth and improved the effect of etoposide. Microscopic analysis of tumors showed a reduction in mitoses and an increase in necrotic areas with the extract and the etoposide. The main phytochemical compounds found are 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran, octadecanoic acid, benzenacetic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and acetic acid. We conclude that the hydroalcoholic extract of T. erecta flowers has cytotoxic effects in lung carcinoma cells and enhances the effect of etoposide.

MYC-induced nuclear antigen (MINA) and preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate trophoblast invasion and the subsequent inflammatory response have been implicated in preeclampsia (PE) pathogenesis. Because MYC-induced nuclear antigen (MINA) gene expression is involved in cell proliferation and differentiation, inflammatory response modulation, and the unpaired regulation of which is associated with human diseases, we sought to investigate the connection between MINA and PE. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between the MINA rs4857304 variant and susceptibility to PE development as well as to estimate placental MINA gene expression and its association with PE. METHODS: About 242 pregnant women (126 PE cases and 116 controls) were included. MINA genotyping and gene expression were evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan probes. RESULTS: The G/G genotype of the MINA rs4857304 variant was associated with severe PE (p = 0.027, OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.8-3.2). Carriers of one G allele of the MINA rs4857304 variant exhibited a 1.7-fold increased risk of severe PE (p = 0.029, 95% CI = 1.1-3.0). MINA was underexpressed in preeclamptic placentas and MINA expression differed between the mild and severe PE groups. Differences in the expression levels of MINA were found among women with the T/T genotype of the rs4857304 polymorphism and carriers of at least one G allele (p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: PE and its severity are associated with the underexpression of placental MINA, and the G/G genotype of the MINA rs4857304 variant may modify the risk of severe PE among the PE cases evaluated.

Evaluación del impacto de acciones de bienestar sobre una comunidad en Colombia usando un modelo para datos correlacionados / Impact evaluation of welfare actions over a community in Colombia, using a data correlated model

La evaluación programas comunitarios algunas veces se basa en técnicas estadísticas como modelos de regresión lineal cuando el objetivo es cuantificar su efecto sobre aspectos sociales o el bienestar general de la comunidad. Esto involucra el estudio de variables sobre la salud mental y social del individuo cuyo efecto puede no ser fácil de cuantificar debido a la presencia de estructuras de correlación entre las observaciones relativas a cada participante. Por esta razón es aconsejable utilizar modelos lineales mixtos para este tipo de estudio. Objetivo: realizar una evaluación de impacto de los efectos producidos por las acciones del Instituto de Deportes y Recreación de Medellín (INDER) sobre la población usuaria. Metodología: a partir de la información muestral tomada por el INDER en el año 2007 a una población de participantes y no participantes de sus programas, se ajustaron modelos lineales generalizados sobre el comportamiento de variables psicológicas y sociales. Luego se realizo un pareamiento por medio de una regresión logística, para determinar todos los sujetos y sus respectivas medidas repetidas que sirvieron para medir el efecto de la intervención de las actividades propias del programa diseñado por el instituto sobre esta comunidad usando un modelo lineal mixto. Resultados: por medio de la estimación con modelos lineales mixtos para cada escenario observado identificaron variables importantes de interacción con la intervención de las acciones del Instituto, que reflejan resultados de impacto positivos. Conclusiones: se encontró un impacto de mejoramiento de variables relacionadas con el capital social, a partir de la participación en las actividades del INDER.

The impact evaluation of a communitarian program sometimes is base don statistical techniques such as linear regression models analysis when the goal is usually to quantify its effects on both social and welfare characteristics of a community. This involves the study of mental health and social variables which effects could not be easily quantified due to the presence of correlation structures among the observations within a particular subject. For this reason it is advisable to use linear mixed models to this kind of study. Objective: To calculate the impact of the effects produced by actions of the Instituto de Deports y Recreación de Medellín (INDER) on the participant population. Methodology: from a sample collected by INDER back in 2007, about participants and no participants of its programs, generalized linear models were estimated to explain the behavior of both social and psychological variables. Then, by using a logistic regression model a matching procedure was performed to identify the subjects and their repeated measures that will serve as inputs to measure the impact of the intervention of the mixed model. Results: the linear mixed estimation process identified important interaction variables that favor the intervention welfare actions. Conclusions: from the participation in the INDER activities, an improvement of variables related with social capital was found.

Evaluación de la diferencia de temperatura axilo-rectal en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda / Evaluation of the rectal-axillary temperature difference in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

La apendicitis aguda (AP) es la causa más frecuente de intervención quirúrgica en servicios de urgencia, ocurre en aproximadamente el 10 por ciento de la población occidental. En nuestro medio, es común la utilización de la diferencia de temperatura axilorectal (DAR) como signo de evaluación en el diagnóstico de ésta. Tradicionalmente se considera que la DAR está aumentada en más de 1 grado en AP, sin embargo en la literatura médica no se encuentra referencia a este signo clínico. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la DAR en AP. Para ello se estudió prospectivamente a 90 pacientes que consultaron al Servicio de Emergencia del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile durante el mes de Junio de 2002 con sospecha de AP. En 31 de ellos se confirmó el diagnóstico. La edad promedio fue de 32 años para AP y 36 en no-AP. Mujeres 45 por ciento en AP y 70 por ciento en no AP. La temperatura axilar, rectal, y DAR en grados Celsius fue de 36,9/36,7, 37,7/37,4 y 0,8/0,7 en AP y no-AP respectivamente, no se encontraron diferencias de significación estadística. La sensibilidad y especificidad de la DAR como signo clínico en AP fue de 19,3 por ciento y 84,7 por ciento respectivamente. Se concluye que la DAR mayor a 1ºC no presenta mayor utilidad diagnóstica, como signo clínico aislado en AP.

[Focal atrial fibrillation. Clinical characteristic and results of radiofrequency ablation]. / Fibrilación auricular focal. Características clínicas y resultado de la ablación con radiofrecuencia.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation can originate in arrhythmogenic foci coming from the pulmonary veins. Patients with atrial fibrillation, initiated from triggering foci, can be treated with radiofrequency ablation. AIM: To report the results of radiofrequency ablation in patients with focal atrial fibrillation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients with focal atrial fibrillation (8 male, aged 19 to 60 years old) are reported. Twelve had frequent crises refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs. Two had also flutter and tachycardia. One had a permanent atrial fibrillation lasting five years. Two had ventricular dysfunction and left atrial dilatation. The triggering focus was identified during the electrophysiological study, by the precocity of the potential that initiated the atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: All patients had early atrial extrasystolic beats, isolated or repetitives, that preceded atrial fibrillation. During the electrophysiological study, 18 foci (3 in the right and 15 in the left atrium all in pulmonary veins) were identified. Radiofrequency ablation had immediate success in 11 patients. In 5, a flutter was also ablated. One patient had a sinus dysfunction after the procedure and atrial fibrillation was not eliminated. In this and other patient in whom the procedure failed, a pacemaker was implanted and the atrioventricular node was blocked. In a follow up, ranging from 4 to 31 months, eight patients are asymptomatic and 3 recidivated. No complications have been detected. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with focal atrial fibrillation have common clinical and electrocardiographic features. Radiofrequency ablation of the triggering focus is possible and effective in most cases.