RESUMEN
The isoflavones daidzein and genistein are natural compounds which have anti-inflammatory and photoprotective activities, and may be effective in the repair of ultraviolet (UV)-induced photodamage. In this study, an alcoholic solution of aglycone isoflavones with a genistein:daidzein ratio of 1:4 [Rottapharm (RPH)-aglycone] was examined for its effects on the repair of DNA damage induced by a single dose of UVB irradiation (20 mJ/cm(2)). For this purpose, human skin cells were first UVB-irradiated and then treated with RPH-aglycone. Comet assay analysis was used to estimate the UVB-induced DNA damage at different time points after treatment by measuring the tail moment parameter. We found that treatment with 10 µmol/L RPH-aglycone solution resulted in a significantly reduced tail moment at 1h after treatment, and 34-35% enhancement of damage repair at 4 h after treatment. These results suggest that isoflavone aglycones are protective against UVB-induced DNA damage.
Asunto(s)
Anticarcinógenos/farmacología , Daño del ADN/efectos de los fármacos , Células Epidérmicas , Células Epiteliales , Genisteína/farmacología , Isoflavonas/farmacología , Rayos Ultravioleta/efectos adversos , Células Cultivadas , Ensayo Cometa , Células Epiteliales/efectos de los fármacos , Células Epiteliales/efectos de la radiación , Humanos , Envejecimiento de la Piel/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
A French foreign legionnaire returning from Djibouti developed feverish polyarthritis with acral purpura. Diagnostic workup demonstrated gonococcemia contracted during unprotected fellatio. Based on this case report, diagnostic and therapeutic management is described.
Asunto(s)
Artritis Infecciosa/diagnóstico , Artritis Infecciosa/microbiología , Exantema/microbiología , Fiebre/microbiología , Gonorrea/complicaciones , Gonorrea/diagnóstico , Personal Militar , Neisseria gonorrhoeae/aislamiento & purificación , Adulto , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Artritis Infecciosa/tratamiento farmacológico , Ceftriaxona/uso terapéutico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Djibouti , Doxiciclina/uso terapéutico , Quimioterapia Combinada , Gonorrea/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Masculino , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Neisseria gonorrhoeae/efectos de los fármacos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Sexo InseguroRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of subclinical cardiovascular (CV) abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) stratified according to SLE-related organ damage using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index. METHODS AND RESULTS: We selected SLE patients without clinically overt CV events (n=45, 56% with SLICC=0, 44% with SLICC=1-4). CV evaluation was performed using cardiac and vascular echo-Doppler techniques. Post-ischemic flow-mediated dilation (FMD) over nitroglycerine-mediated dilation (NMD) of the brachial artery <0.70 defined endothelial dysfunction. The prevalence of preclinical CV abnormalities (CVAbn, including at least one of the following-carotid atherosclerosis, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, low arterial compliance, LV wall motion abnormalities, aortic regurgitation, FMD/NMD<0.70)-was 64% (16/25) in patients with SLICC=0 and 80% (16/20) in those with SLICC>0 (p=not significant (NS)). In particular, the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis (28% vs. 16%), of LV hypertrophy (12% vs. 6%) and of LV wall motion abnormalities (15% vs. 12%), of low global arterial compliance (18% vs. 10%), prevalence of aortic regurgitation (30% vs. 18%) and/or aortic valve fibrosclerosis (10% vs. 8%), FMD<10% (14+/-5% vs. 14%+/-6) and prevalence of FMD/NMD<0.70 (53% vs. 52%) were comparable in SLE patients with SLICC>0 and in those with SLICC=0 (all p=NS). Of the SLE patients without carotid atherosclerosis, LV hypertrophy, low arterial compliance, LV wall motion abnormalities and aortic regurgitation (n=17), endothelial dysfunction was detected in 50% of those with SLICC=0 (6/12) and in 40% of those with SLICC>0 (2/5, p=NS). CONCLUSIONS: SLE patients with SLICC=0 often have an elevated CV risk profile due to subclinical manifestations of CV disease detectable by cardiac and vascular echo-Doppler evaluations.
Asunto(s)
Arteria Braquial/fisiopatología , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/epidemiología , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/etiología , Endotelio Vascular/fisiopatología , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/complicaciones , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/epidemiología , Vasodilatación , Adolescente , Adulto , Insuficiencia de la Válvula Aórtica/epidemiología , Insuficiencia de la Válvula Aórtica/etiología , Insuficiencia de la Válvula Aórtica/fisiopatología , Arteria Braquial/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/fisiopatología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/etiología , Enfermedades de las Arterias Carótidas/fisiopatología , Adaptabilidad , Ecocardiografía Doppler en Color , Endotelio Vascular/diagnóstico por imagen , Femenino , Humanos , Hipertrofia Ventricular Izquierda/epidemiología , Hipertrofia Ventricular Izquierda/etiología , Hipertrofia Ventricular Izquierda/fisiopatología , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/diagnóstico , Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico/fisiopatología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Nitroglicerina , Prevalencia , Medición de Riesgo , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Ultrasonografía Doppler , Vasodilatadores , Disfunción Ventricular Izquierda/epidemiología , Disfunción Ventricular Izquierda/etiología , Disfunción Ventricular Izquierda/fisiopatología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
We studied the effects of weight loss and non-weight-bearing exercise (swimming) on blood and organ lead and essential metal concentrations in rats with prior lead exposure. Nine-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 37) received lead acetate in their drinking water for 2 weeks, followed by a 4-day latency period without lead exposure. Rats were then randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups: weight maintenance with ad libitum feeding, moderate weight loss with 20% food restriction, and substantial weight loss with 40% food restriction, either with or without swimming. Blood lead concentrations were measured weekly. The rats were euthanized after a 4-week period of food restriction, and the brain, liver, kidneys, quadriceps muscle, lumbar spinal column bones, and femur were harvested for analysis for lead, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Both swimming and nonswimming rats fed restricted diets had consistently higher blood lead concentrations than the ad libitum controls. Rats in the substantial weight loss group had higher organ lead concentrations than rats in the weight maintenance group. Rats in the moderate weight loss group had intermediate values. There were no significant differences in blood and organ lead concentrations between the swimming and nonswimming groups. Organ iron concentrations increased with weight loss, but those of the other metals studied did not. Weight loss also increased hematocrits and decreased bone density of the nonswimming rats. The response of lead stores to weight loss was similar to that of iron stores because both were conserved during food restriction in contrast to decreased stores of the other metals studied. It is possible that weight loss, especially rapid weight loss, could result in lead toxicity in people with a history of prior excessive lead exposure.