Dietary fibre: influence on body weight, glycemic control and plasma cholesterol profile.

There have been several studies on the effects of dietary fibre on the metabolism. Epidemiologic studies have consistently reported an inverse relationship between dietary fibre and type 2 diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular mortality. This review focuses on observational and experimental studies that examine the effect of different types and sources of dietary fibre on body weight, glucose metabolism and lipid profile. From the available evidence, we conclude that clinical studies consistently show that the intake of viscous dietary fibre decreases the low density lipoprotein cholesterol and postprandial glucose levels, and induces short term satiety. However, few clinical trials have demonstrated that the intake of dietary fibre has a positive effect on the control of diabetes and body weight.

Dietary fibre: influence on body weight, glycemic control and plasma cholesterol profile / Fibra dietética: influencia sobre el peso corporal, el control glicémico y el perfil del colesterol plasmático

There have been several studies on the effects of dietary fibre on the metabolism. Epidemiologic studies have consistently reported an inverse relationship between dietary fibre and type 2 diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular mortality. This review focuses on observational and experimental studies that examine the effect of different types and sources of dietary fibre on body weight, glucose metabolism and lipid profile. From the available evidence, we conclude that clinical studies consistently show that the intake of viscous dietary fibre decreases the low density lipoprotein cholesterol and postprandial glucose levels, and induces short term satiety. However, few clinical trials have demonstrated that the intake of dietary fibre has a positive effect on the control of diabetes and body weight (AU)

Existen diversos estudios que han evaluado el efecto del consumo de fibra dietética sobre el metabolismo. Diversos estudios epidemiológicos observaron una relación inversa entre la fibra dietética y la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 o la mortalidad cardiovascular. Esta revisión se basa sobre estudios observacionales y experimentales que han valorado los efectos de diferentes tipos y fuentes de fibra dietética sobre el peso corporal, el metabolismo de la glucosa y el perfil lipídico. De la evidencia disponible, concluimos que los estudios clínicos consistentemente muestran que la ingesta de alimentos fuentes de fibra viscosa disminuye el colesterol de las lipoproteínas de baja densidad y los niveles de glucosa postprandial e induce la saciedad a corto plazo. Sin embargo, pocos ensayos clínicos han demostrado un efecto positivo sobre el control de la diabetes y el peso corporal (AU)

Holoprosencefalia semilobular en 2 gestaciones sucesivas / Semilobar holoprosencephaly in 2 successive pregnancies

La holoprosencefalia (HPE) se caracteriza por un espectro de anomalías del sistema nervioso central provienentes de un fallo en la diferenciación y la división del prosencéfalo. Aproximadamente el 50% de las causas son cromosómicas, y las trisomías 13 y 18 son las más frecuentes. Ocasionalmente se ha descrito con carácter familiar. Hay 3 tipos de HPE: alobular, semilobular y lobular. A continuación se presenta un caso de HPE semilobular que apareció en una misma mujer en 2 gestaciones sucesivas. Se trata de una mujer de 33 años de edad que acudió a este centro durante el segundo trimestre de embarazo en 2 gestaciones sucesivas, presentaba idénticos hallazgos ecográficos en ambas gestaciones, los dos compatibles con HPE semilobular. Los padres presentaban cariotipos normales pero leve retraso mental. Ambas gestaciones finalizaron con una interrupción voluntaria del embarazo en las semanas 21 y 20, respectivamente. Los informes de anatomía patológica confirmaron la HPE en ambos fetos. Ante tales hallazgos, se decidió realizar una resonancia magnética cerebral de ambos progenitores con el fin de descartar el carácter familiar de la enfermedad. La madre presentó discreta asimetría del tamaño ventricular y del fórnix sin otros hallazgos patológicos. El estudio paterno confirmó las sospechas y mostró una agenesia parcial del cuerpo calloso en su porción media y posterior; también se observó una afectación en la morfología de los ventrículos laterales y una arteria pericallosa única, la hoz cerebral poseía un desarrollo escaso (AU)

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is characterized by a spectrum of central nervous system anomalies arising from a failure in the differentiation and division of the prosencephalon. Approximately 50% of the causes are chromosomal, the most frequent being trisomies 13 and 18. A familial form has occasionally been described. There are three types of HPE: alobar, semilobar and lobar. We present the case of a 33-year-old woman who showed identical ultrasonographic findings compatible with semilobar HPE in the second trimester of two successive pregnancies. Both parents had normal karyotypes, but mild mental retardation. Both pregnancies were finalized by dilation and extraction abortion in weeks 21 and 20, respectively. Histopathological analysis confirmed HPE in both fetuses. Given these findings, cerebral magnetic resonance imaging was performed in both parents to exclude familial HPE. The mother showed slight asymmetry in ventricular size and fornix with no other abnormalities. Study of the father confirmed our suspicions and showed partial agenesis of the corpus callosum in the medial and posterior portions, as well as a defect in the morphology of the lateral ventricles and a single pericallosal artery. The cerebral sickle showed little development (AU)

Subcutaneous adipose tissue cytokine production is not responsible for the restoration of systemic inflammation markers during weight loss.

CONTEXT: It has been suggested that weight loss can improve systemic inflammation associated with obesity by decreasing the adipose production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This suggestion, however, remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the effect of weight loss on peripheral inflammatory markers and subcutaneous adipocytokine production. DESIGN: Patients were studied at baseline, at the end of the weight loss period, and after 2 weeks of weight stabilisation. SUBJECTS: Nineteen morbid obese non-diabetic patients and 20 lean control subjects. INTERVENTION: During the weight loss period patients followed a 6-week low-calorie diet. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma levels of inflammatory markers, maximal in vitro whole-blood cytokine production, subcutaneous adipose tissue expression and content of several cytokines. RESULTS: Obese subjects had higher circulating levels of C reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin IL-6, IL-1 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR). Weight loss was associated with a significant decrease in CRP, SAA, leucocytes and plasma IL-6. Maximal in vitro cytokine production of IL-1 and sTNFR1 increased during this period. Weight loss did not induce significant changes in the adipose concentrations of IL-6, IL-1 or sTNF-receptors. However, adipose expression of IL-6, IL-1, TNFalpha, membrane cofactor protein-1 and adiponectin increased at the end of the weight loss period. During weight maintenance, circulating inflammatory parameters increased and in some cases returned to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: A low-calorie diet is associated with an improvement in the systemic inflammatory status. This seems to be due to energy restriction rather than to adipose mass loss, since inflammatory levels return to baseline soon after weight stabilisation. Furthermore, a negative energy balance and fat mobilisation are associated with increased subcutaneous cytokine adipose expression.

C-reactive protein, adiposity and cardiovascular risk factors in a Mediterranean population.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the distribution of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) and its relations with classic cardiovascular risk factors in specific populations is important for further diagnostic use. METHODS: We studied 1,157 adult subjects (652 women and 505 men) participating in the Health Study of Catalonia. CRP concentrations were measured with a high-sensitivity turbidimetric assay. RESULTS: Median levels of CRP were 1.57 mg/l and 25% of both men and women had CRP values >3 mg/l. No differences were observed between men and women even after adjustment for age and body mass index (BMI). After patients with CRP values above the 97.5th percentile (n = 31) had been excluded, CRP concentrations increased significantly with increasing levels of cardiovascular risk factors in both men and women. Men and women with metabolic syndrome showed significantly higher levels of CRP than their counterparts, even after adjustment for BMI and age. In a multiple regression analysis, BMI, triglycerides and fasting glucose were independent predictors of CRP in women and together explained 42% of its variance. In men, CRP was independently and positively associated to waist circumference, smoking, diastolic blood pressure, uric acid and triglycerides, and negatively associated to HDL-cholesterol. Altogether these variables explained 51% of its variability. CONCLUSIONS: The present study describes, for the first time, CRP concentrations in a sample that is representative of a Spanish Mediterranean community. CRP distribution and correlates are very similar to those reported previously in spite of the different lifestyle and nutritional habits, and the lower rates of cardiovascular diseases in our population.

[The teaching of nutrition at medical schools:current situation]. / La enseñanza de la nutrición en las facultades de Medicina: situación actual.

BACKGROUND: Although doctors, students and teachers all coincide in acknowledging the need for an appropriate knowledge of human nutrition in order to practice medicine, the inclusion of this discipline in the undergraduate curriculum has been rather scant. Until a few years ago, there were only two medical schools in Spain with a compulsory course in nutrition as part of the syllabus. GOAL: An attempt will be made to assess the current status of the teaching of nutrition within the syllabuses for a degree in Medicine and Surgery at Spanish universities. MATERIALS: The syllabuses of 27 Faculties of Medicine in Spain have been consulted to find out: 1) if there are specific subjects on nutrition, feeding and/or dietetics, 2) if these subjects are compulsory or optional, and 3) if there are specific issues from this area included within other subjects. RESULTS: The results of the query show that 7 schools (approximately 25% of the total) teach a compulsory subject on nutrition or dietetics whereas 17 have at least one optional subject in this field, particularly during the second or specialization stage, with a mean content worth 4.5 credits. Furthermore, 3 of the schools offer both compulsory and optional courses simultaneously. Within the course material of the core subjects included in the second stage of the degree, the subjects of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Paediatrics seem to be the ones most commonly including clinical nutrition topics, generally with a very small relative weight. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained show an increasing interest in the creation of distinctive subjects for nutrition and/or dietetics. Nonetheless, this is still mainly an optional subject and the integration of human nutrition into the syllabus for core subjects seems insufficient for its to be considered a good alternative.

Influence of arteriolar hyalinization on arterial intimal fibroplasia in the renal cortex of subjects in the United States, Peru, and Bolivia, applicable also to other populations.

Microvasculopathies of nephrosclerosis progress with age in contrasting patterns. Arterial intimal fibroplasia (R(r) and R(c), respectively, in small and large interlobular arteries) previously showed close linkages to hypertension and to "nephrosclerosis," defined by fibrous replacement of atrophied nephrons, whereas hyalinization of arterioles (Hy) failed to show consistent linkages. In this study, renal samples from seven populations, three newly assembled and four reassessed from archived data, were evaluated for R(r), R(c), and Hy in forensic autopsies of basal subjects (ie, those lacking conditions known to correlate with hypertension or nephrosclerosis, mostly deaths by violence). The patterns of progression on age were alike in all populations, but the rates of progression differed greatly. The observed ranges indicate a 547% higher rate for Hy in the fastest compared with the slowest population, a 49% higher rate for R(c), and a 107% higher rate for R(r). About one third of variation in R(r) and R(c) between populations can be attributed to the correlation with Hy, leaving a substantial residual effect independent of Hy. The findings suggest that the etiology propelling hyalinization in arterioles seems somehow to accelerate the progression of intimal fibroplasia in arteries. The reverse direction, fibroplasia somehow accelerating hyalinization, seems unreasonable, because the presumed consequence, Hy, fails to increase notably with age after 40 years, whereas the presumed causes, R(r) and R(c), rise unremittingly into old age. The etiologies of the population differences are of great consequence to public health but remain unknown.

The action of aging upon coronary intima and renal microvasculature in USA and Andes populations.

Full lengths of right coronary artery obtained at autopsy and examined in hematoxylin and eosin stained paraffin sections sometimes reveal the presence of at least one instance of atheroma (YesA specimens). YesA specimens are nearly always those with generalized intimal fibroplasia, measured by excessive intimal thickness per smooth muscle cell. Accumulating evidence suggests that aging governs the progression of fibroplasia, and that this fibroplasia is what aging does to the coronary artery in preparation for atheroma. Hyalinization of renal arterioles was previously found to correlate strongly with the presence of coronary atheroma and with the progression of the fibroplasia of aging in race, sex, age matched comparisons of subjects within a population (forensic autopsies in New Orleans). The data reported here reveal the correlation of arteriolar hyalinization with fibroplasia and atheroma to persist in comparisons across geographically diverse populations. The outcome suggests that aging of coronary intima, in so far as it bears upon preparation for atheroma, may vary in rate between populations. This source of variation could offer clues about environmental factors that may modify rates of aging.

Disseminated infection caused by Scedosporium prolificans in a patient with acute multilineal leukemia.

In this report, we describe a case of disseminated infection caused by Scedosporium prolificans (S. inflatum) in a patient affected by chemotherapy-induced acute multilineal leukemia and neutropenia. For the fungus isolated in four blood cultures, high MICs of currently available antifungal agents were found. Postmortem examination revealed multiorgan involvement.

Comparison of pressure support ventilation and assist-control ventilation in the treatment of respiratory failure.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess whether pressure support ventilation (PSV) could be used as an alternative ventilatory mode to assist-control (A/C) ventilation in the treatment of respiratory failure. DESIGN: A short-term (4-h) prospective study in which the beneficial effect of PSV on respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, arterial oxygenation, cardiovascular hemodynamics, and oxygen consumption was compared with A/C ventilation. SETTING: ICU of a community hospital. PATIENTS: Forty-five patients (mean age, 62.8 [11.8] years) with respiratory failure secondary to COPD, restrictive disorders, or neuromuscular disease requiring mechanical ventilatory support in the ICU were selected for study. INTERVENTIONS: The mean duration of mechanical ventilation before the study was 7.16 (8.64) days. Patients were switched to the PSV mode of the mechanical ventilator for a period of 4 h after which conventional A/C ventilation was resumed. RESULTS: Patients supported with PSV compared with A/C ventilation showed significantly higher tidal volume, minute ventilation, and inspiratory time in association with significantly lower pressure in the airway and I:E ratio. With regard to gas exchange data, an increase in dead space/tidal volume ratio (VD/VT), decrease in PaO2, and statistically but not clinically significant alteration of arterial oxygenation indexes were noted. However, when patients with COPD, restrictive disorders, and neuromuscular disease were compared, significant changes in arterial oxygenation parameters were found only in patients with restrictive disorders. There were significant decreases in heart rate, systolic pulmonary artery pressure, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure when PSV was applied. Oxygen transport and oxygen consumption were unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: PSV could be a possible alternative to A/C ventilation in patients with respiratory failure. PSV caused an increase in VD/VT in association with a significantly lower pressure in the airway and I:E ratio. Randomized studies are needed to define the long-term benefits of both respiratory modes and the conditions in which PSV may be a valuable alternative to A/C ventilation.