Selecting the best anthropometric variables to characterize a population of healthy elderly persons.

The objective is to select the best anthropometric measurements to characterize a healthy elderly population. For that, 1030 healthy elderly persons (508 men and 522 women) living independently or in an institution (in both public and private homes) were enrolled for this population-based, cross-sectional study conducted from February 2004 to May 2005. Anthropometric measurements were made by the same investigator according to standard techniques of the WHO. Across several age groups, men were significantly heavier and taller than women whereas skinfold thicknesses were significantly greater in women than men. Through statistical analysis we were able to identify the variables providing most information and that could also best discriminate between sex, age and independent versus institutionalized persons: height, weight, one of the skinfold thickness measurements and mid-upper arm circumference. The number of age groups in both the male and female populations could be limited to three.

Selecting the best anthropometric variables to characterize a population of healthy elderly persons / Selección de las variables antropométricas más adecuadas para caracterizar una población de personas mayores sanas

The objective is to select the best anthropometric measurements to characterize a healthy elderly population. For that, 1030 healthy elderly persons (508 men and 522 women) living independently or in an institution (in both public and private homes) were enrolled for this population-based, cross-sectional study conducted from February 2004 to May 2005. Anthropometric measurements were made by the same investigator according to standard techniques of the WHO. Across several age groups, men were significantly heavier and taller than women whereas skinfold thicknesses were significantly greater in women than men. Through statistical analysis we were able to identify the variables providing most information and that could also best discriminate between sex, age and independent versus institutionalized persons: height, weight, one of the skinfold thickness measurements and mid-upper arm circumference. The number of age groups in both the male and female populations could be limited to three (AU)

El objetivo es la selección de las variables antropométricas más adecuadas para caracterizar poblaciones sanas de personas mayores. Para ello se han seleccionado aleatoriamente 1030 de estas personas (508 hombres y 522 mujeres) institucionalizados en residencias públicas, privadas y no institucionalizados. Todas las medidas antropométricas se realizaron por parte del mismo investigador de acuerdo con las técnicas estandarizadas por la OMS. En todos los grupos de edad se ha encontrado que los hombres son significativamente más altos y tienen un peso mayor que las mujeres, al contrario que ocurre con los distintos pliegues. Mediante el análisis estadístico de los datos hemos podido identificar las variables que proporcionan mayor información y que además permiten diferenciar los sujetos por sexo, edad y lugar de residencia: peso, altura, uno de los pliegues y la circunferencia muscular del brazo. En cuanto a los segmentos de edad, pueden reducirse a tres (AU)

Efecto del clorhidrato de mianserina sobre preparaciones de órgano aislado de cobaya y de rata "in vitro" / Effects of mianserin hydrochloride on isolated organ preparations of guinea-pig and rat "in vitro"

OBJETIVO. Estudiar las modificaciones inducidas por Mianserina en las respuestas del ileon aislado de cobaya a acetilcolina e histamina, conducto deferente de rata a noradrenalina y útero aislado de rata a histamina. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS. Se utilizó ileon aislado de cobaya incubado en solución de Tyrode, conducto deferente de rata incubado en solución de Krebs- Henseleit y útero aislado de rata incubado en solución de Jalón. Se realizaron curvas dosis-efecto a acetilcolina, histamina y noradrenalina en ausencia y en presencia de mianserina y se calculó el pA2. RESULTADOS. La mianserina se comporta como antagonista de los neurotransmisores estudiados. Conclusión: La mianserina se comporta como fármaco escasamente estabilizador inespecífico de membrana (AU)

OBJETIVE. Study the modifications produced by mianserin in the responses of isolated guinea-pig to acetylcholine and histamine, rat vas deferens to noradrenalinee and rat uterus to histamine. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Guinea-Pig ileum incubated in Tyrode solution were used. Dose-effect curves to acetylcholine and histamine were made in absence and in the presence of mianserin. Rat vas deferens incubated in Krebs-Henseleit solution were used. Dose-effect curves to noradrenaline were made in absence and in the presence of mianserin. Uterus of rat incubated in Jalon solution were used. Dose-effect curves to histamine were made in absence and in the presence of mianserin, pA2 was calculated. RESULTS. Mianserin behave as antagonist of acethylcholine, histamine and noradrenaline. Conclusions: Mianserin acts as few unspecific membrane stabilizer (AU)

Efecto de amoxapina en preparaciones de órgano aislado de cobaya y de rata "in vitro" / Effect of amoxapine on severa preparations of isolated guinea-pig and rat organ "in vitro"

OBJETIVO. Estudiar las modificaciones inducidas por amoxapina en las respuestas del íleon aislado de cobaya a acetilcolina e histamina, conducto deferente de rata a noradrenalina y dopamina y útero aislado de rata a histamina. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS. Se utilizó ileon aislado de cobaya incubado en solución de Tyrode, conducto deferente de rata incubado en solución de Krebs-Henseleit y útero aislado de rata incubado en solución de Jalón. Se realizaron curvas dosis-efecto a acetilcolina, histamina, noradrenalina y dopamina en ausencia y en presencia de amoxapina y se calcularon los valores de pA2 y pD'2. RESULTADOS. La amoxapina se comporta como antagonista de los neurotransmisores estudiados. CONCLUSIONES. La amoxapina se comporta como estabilizador inespecífico de membrana (AU)

OBJETIVE. Study the modifications produced by amoxapine in the responses of isolated guinea-pig to acetylcholine and histamine, rat vas deferens to noradrenaline and dopamine and rat uterus to histamine. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Guinea-pig incubated in Tyrode solution were used. Dose-effect curves to acetylcholine and histamine were made in absence and in the presence of amoxapine. Rat vas deferens incubated in Krebs-Henseleit solution were used. Dose-effect to noradrenaline and dopamine were made in the absence and in the presence of amoxapine. Uterus of rat incubated in Jalon solution were used. Dose-effect curves to histamine were made in the absence and in the presence of amoxapine. pA2 and pD'2 were calculated. RESULTS. Amoxapine behave as antagonist of acetylcholine, histamine and dopamine. CONCLUSIONS. Amoxapine acts as unspecific membrane stabilizer (AU)

Nuevos fármacos para el tratamiento de la diabetes tipo 2 / New drugs for treatment of diabetes type 2

No disponible

[Current status of the treatment with thyroid hormones]. / Estado actual del tratamiento con hormonas tiroideas.

The main indication of thyroid hormone preparations is the treatment of hypothyroidism, ideally the goal of therapy is to restore the serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentration to a normal value. The optimal doses used to be stable, but several conditions may alter their requirements (reduced intestinal absorption, pregnancy,...). Levothyroxine therapy is also used in the benign nodular disease and after surgery in patients with thyroid cancer. The overtreatment with thyroxine and the problems related to bone mineral density seems of special importance.

Effects of several neuroleptics, antidepressants and monoamine uptake blockers on ATPase activity and related oxygen uptake in rat brain in vitro.

An experimental trial was conducted to study the effects of phenoxybenzamine, cocaine, carbamazepine, loxapine, clozapine, clothiapine, thiothixene, droperidol, alprazolam, imipramine, maprotiline, dibenzepin, nomifensine, trazodone, mianserin, viloxazine, doxepin and amoxapine on photocolorimetrically rated ATPase activity and on related oxygen uptake, determined by manometrical means, within a concentration range of 0.1-0.001 mM. Phenoxybenzamine, clothiapine and maprotiline at 0.1 mM inhibited sodium-potassium ATPase activity and related QO2 by 30-40%. Loxapine, trazodone, amoxapine and alprazolam at 0.1 mM inhibited sodium-potassium ATPase activity by 25-35%. Imipramine, nomifensine and droperidol at 0.1 mM inhibited QO2 by 20-35%. Cocaine, at all concentrations assayed, inhibited ouabain insensitive ATPase. The remaining drugs did not produce significant modifications.

Effects of antidepressants on alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats.

The purpose of the present report is to study the effects of antidepressants such as trimipramine, amitriptyline, maprotiline and mianserin on severe gastric mucosal lesions produced by ethanol in comparison with cimetidine (H2-antihistamine) and dexchlorepheniramine (H2-antihistamine). The percentage of macroscopic mucosal lesions caused by alcohol affects 15% of the mucosal area. But pretreated with cimetidine the affected area was 9.18%, with dexchlorepheniramine 5.01%, with trimipramine 14.46%, with amitripytline 7.94%, with maprotiline 3.8%, and with mianserin 4.07%. Microscopic evaluation reveals that ethanol produces destruction of glandular cells and injures medial and basal layers. All drugs used previously to ethanol produce a decrease of microscopical lesions. A direct relation was found between micro and macroscopical lesions in rats treated with maprotiline, mianserin and dexchlorepheniramine.

[Anticholinergic action of neuroleptics and antidepressives on the guinea pig ileum. Comparison with atropine and pirenzepine]. / Action anticholinergique des neuroleptiques et des antidépresseurs sur l'iléon de cobaye. Comparaison avec l'atropine et la pirenzépine.

All the drugs studied here present anticholinergic antimuscarinic dose-dependent activity reversible in front of acetylcholine whether exogenous or released by electrically stimulated Guinea-pig ileum. The classification in decreasing order of anticholinergic power is as follows: atropine, pirenzepine, trimipramine, clozapine, clotiapine , thiotixene , trazodone. Atropine, pirenzepine and probably trazodone act as competitive antagonists, while the other ones have an antagonistic non-competitive action. The action mainly occurs at a postsynaptic level and only trazodone would present a high component of presynaptic action. Our results bear out the hypotheses denying any relation between anticholinergic power and extrapyramidal effects in neuroleptics and between anticholinergic action and antidepressive effect in antidepressants.