Lack of association between Vitamin D status and free light chains profile with different chronic HCV-related liver and extrahepatic disorders.

OBJECTIVE: A still uncertain association between vitamin D levels and HCV chronic liver diseases has been reported. Increased levels of serum-free light chains (FLCs) and an altered k/λ FLC ratio correlate with Mixed Cryoglobulinemia (MC) vasculitis and/or B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in HCV-positive patients. We aimed to investigate the possible role of vitamin D, vitamin D Binding Protein (DBP), and FLCs levels as a tool for discriminating different stages of HCV- related MC and chronic liver diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five untreated patients were retrospectively enrolled and 21 healthy blood donors (HBD) were used as controls. Vitamin D, DBP, FLCs, and cryoglobulins levels were measured. Based on cryoglobulins, patients were divided in three subgroups (without cryoglobulins, type II, and type III). RESULTS: We didn't find any significant differences in vitamin D and DBP levels between HCV patients' main groups and HBD. Serum FLCs levels were significantly higher in HCV patients than in HBD. FLCs ratio among patients' subgroups did not reveal differences. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the presence of an increased serum level of FLCs in HCV patients and suggest that nor vitamin D and DBP or FLC levels can be considered reliable biomarkers for discriminating different stages of HCV-associated chronic liver diseases and/or HCV-associated extrahepatic manifestation. We confirm that serological FLCs levels are significantly higher in patients than in HBD as a signature of B cell activation in course of HCV infection.

Cervical length screening: a randomized trial assessing the impact on visit length and patient attitudes.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to quantify the time required for transvaginal cervical length measurements during a second-trimester anatomy scan and to evaluate patient attitudes regarding cervical length assessment. METHODS: Consenting women were randomly assigned to one of the following: (1) standard arm-cervix visualized, no prespecified cervical length measurement; (2) sequential arm-3 transabdominal cervical length measurements obtained, transvaginal sonography performed if images were inadequate or if any measurement was 3 cm or less; and (3) screening transvaginal sonography arm-3 transvaginal cervical length measurements obtained. Times were recorded for the entire examination and cervical length evaluation. Participants completed a questionnaire at the end of their visits. RESULTS: Sixty of 230 eligible women enrolled. Demographic characteristics were similar across groups except for body mass index, which was greater in the sequential arm than the screening arm (mean ± SD, 28.5 ± 7.75 versus 24.7 ± 3.89 kg/m(2); P = .03). There were no differences in total examination times between the 3 arms (24.8 ± 8.59 versus 27.8 ± 8.75 versus 28.5 ± 7.78 minutes; P= .39). There were no differences across groups in participant attitudes regarding examination discomfort or embarrassment. CONCLUSIONS: Performing screening transvaginal sonography to measure cervical length did not have a statistically significant impact on the amount of time for completion of the entire examination. Participants had positive responses regarding cervical length assessment by transabdominal and transvaginal sonography.

Isolated bone lesion secondary to hyperparathyroidism: diagnostic considerations.

Authors describe two cases of bone lesions ("brown" tumour) secondary to hyperparathyroidism in whom incisional biopsy gave an incorrect diagnosis. The first case was a patient with a lesion of the right femur diagnosed as aneurismal cyst and; the second case was a patient with an isolated lesion of the distal metaphysic of right humerus firstly diagnosed as giant cells tumour. Treatment of the first case was resection and diaphyseal spacer, and the correct diagnosis of brown tumour was performed for the multiple tibial localizations appeared six months later. The second case was diagnosed as affected by a brown tumour secondary to hyperparathyroidism on the basis of clinical history and laboratory analysis. Both diagnoses were firstly incorrect and would have brought to an inadequate treatment with consequences on patients quality life. Differential diagnosis is discussed and the importance to evaluate all the diagnostic data to formulate a correct diagnosis is stressed.

Body cell mass measured by bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy in professional football (soccer) players.

AIM: The aim of this study was to measure body cell mass (BCM) in two football (soccer) teams and assess if there are differences in body composition among players of different field positions. METHODS: Two professional Italian (male) football teams, representing two different divisions (A and C), have been recruited. There were 14 players (4 forwards, 4 defenders, 6 midfielders) in A and 18 players (4 forwards, 4 defenders, 8 midfielders, 2 goalkeepers) in C. Fat free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), percent body fat (%BF), and BCM have been assessed using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, body weight, height or body mass index between teams. Team A's BCM was approximately 4 kg greater than C (P=0.001). FFM was significantly greater in midfielders and defenders in A vs C (P=0.02). FFM was significantly lower in forwards compared to defenders within A (P=0.02). Within A, FM and %BF were significantly lower for defenders compared to forwards and midfielders (P=0.01), and BCM was significantly greater in forwards vs defenders (P=0.01), with no significant differences among other field positions. BCM was significantly greater in forwards vs midfielders and defenders within C (P=0.02), with no significant differences between midfielders and defenders. CONCLUSIONS: BCM, measured using BIS, represents an innovative, simple approach to assess body composition. The present study demonstrates that it is very important to analyze body composition in football players, not only with the aim to evaluate the variation of weight in a quantitative and qualitative way, but also with the purpose of selecting players for specific roles. Although these results must be considered not yet conclusive, they could be an important information for coaches, especially during the selection of young football players.

Alterations of energy metabolism and glutathione levels of HL-60 cells induced by methacrylates present in composite resins.

OBJECTIVES: Methacrylic compounds such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and bisphenol A glycerolate (1 glycerol/phenol) dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA) are largely present in auto- or photopolymerizable composite resins. Since the polymerization reaction is never complete, these molecules are released into the oral cavity tissues and biological fluids where they could cause local adverse effects. The aim of this work was to verify the hypothesis that the biological effects of HEMA, TEGDMA and Bis-GMA - at a non-cytotoxic concentration - depend on the interaction with mitochondria and exert consequent alterations of energy metabolism, GSH levels and the related pathways in human promyelocytic cell line (HL-60). METHODS: The biological effects of methacrylic monomers were determined by analyzing the following parameters: GSH concentration, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity, oxygen and glucose consumption and lactate production along with cell differentiation and proliferation. RESULTS: All monomers induced both cellular differentiation and decrease in oxygen consumption. Cells treated with TEGDMA and Bis-GMA showed a significant enhancement of glucose consumption and lactate production. TEGDMA and HEMA induced GSH depletion stimulating G6PDH and GR activity. CONCLUSIONS: All the monomers under study affect the metabolism of HL-60 cells and show differentiating activity. Since alterations in cellular metabolism occurred at compound concentrations well below cytotoxic levels, the changes in energy metabolism and glutathione redox balance could be considered as potential mechanisms for inducing clinical and sub-clinical adverse effects and thus providing useful parameters when testing biocompatibility of dental materials.

Cuantificacion de poblaciones linfocitarias CD16+ y CD56+ en las diferentes etapas de la infeccion por el virus de Inmunodeficiencia Humana / Quantification of linfocitarias populations CD16+ y CD56+ in the different stages from the infection by the virus Human Immunodeficiency

El VIH=SIDA es un importante problema de Salud Publica por la cantidad de personas que han fallecido por esta causa en todoel mundo 40 millones de infectados hasta fines del año 2001(11). Uno de los propocitos mas importantes de la investigacion medica, es sin duda conocer los transtornos que subyacen detras dela clinica de la infeccion por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana que posee una serie de peciulariedades, algunas conocidas y otras por descubrir> Hasta el momento no se ha podido encontrar un tratamiento eficaz y son los estudios actuales en este campo que tratan de encontrarlo. PREGUNTA DE INVESTIGACION: Cual es el comportamiento cuantitativo de las poblaciones linfositarias CD16+ y CD56+ en pacientes VIH(+) durante la evolucion dela infeccion?

Estandarización y comparación de los métodos Inmunofluorescencia e Inmunoenzimático para la cuantificación de poblaciones linfocitarias en sangre periférica. Establecimiento de rangos de referencia / Standardization and comparison of the methods inmunofluorencencia and inmunoenzimatico for the identification of population linfociticas in blood periferica, difference ranks establishment

Entre los componentes del sistema inmunológico involucrados en la respuesta inmune están los linfocitos: B, linfocitos T, y células asesimas (NK). Su participación en uno o más de ellos puede llevar a enfermedades graves y a menudo fatales. En este sentido es de suma importancia disponer de técnicas adecuadas para poder cuantificar estos tipos celulares, estas técnicas deberán ser sensibles, específicas, reproducibles, confiables y de menor costo posible, asequible a la mayoría de la población y que no requiera de equipo costoso para que pueda ser utilizado por laboratorios de mediana envergadura. En este trabajo, se estandarizaron y se compararon los métodos inmunofluorescencia e inmunoenzimático. Ambos métodos tienen como fundamento la identificación de marcadores de superficie específicos de cada tipo celular, pudiéndose cuantificar poblaciones linfocitarias CD4+, CD8+ CD16+ y CD56+ que sirvieron para conocer más de su presencia en la evaluación del sistema inmunológico. Por otro lado, en nuestro medio las condiciones socioeconómicas, culturales ambientales, entre otras, podrían determinar diferencias en los parámetros de los diferentes componentes del sistema inmune. En este capítulo planteamos la necesidad de establecer estas diferencias en nuestra población (rangos de referencia) para que los resultados de las pruebas sean de real utilidad y puedan ser evaluados en su real magnitud

Implementación de un Método de Cuantificación de Datos para la prueba de Diagnóstico Serológico de Tuberculosis, basado en el Método Inmunodott / Implantation of a method of quantification of data for the test of diagnostic serologic of tuberculosis based on the method inmudott

En la actualidad el diagnóstico serológico de tuberculosis es una meta anhelada. Reviste mucha dificultad debido a que los distintos métodos serológicos actualmente empleados tienen desventajas de especificidad o de sensibilidad. En nuestro medio se ha realizado un estudio preliminar con resultados muy prometedores en la intención de establecer el Inmunodott como método de diagnóstico basado en la determinación de anticuerpos, que permite discriminar entre salud y enfermedad. El presente trabajo pretende implementar un método de cuantificación de datos por densitometría, para el método inicial planteado "INMUNODOTT", como método de diagnóstico serológico de tuberculosis

Plasma levels of coenzyme Q(10), vitamin E and lipids in uremic patients on conservative therapy and hemodialysis treatment: some possible biochemical and clinical implications.

Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)), vitamin E, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol (HDLC) and triglycerides were measured in the plasma of 62 patients with kidney failure, 46 under hemodialysis treatment and 16 under conservative therapy, and 95 controls. The sum of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and VLDL-cholesterol (VLDL-C) was also calculated for each patient. The ratio CoQ(10)/LDL-C+VLDL-C in both conservative therapy and hemodialysis populations was significantly lower (P<0.001) compared with normal controls and remained unchanged after the dialysis treatment. On the contrary the ratio vitamin E/LDL-C+VLDL-C was normal but decreased significantly (P<0.02) after each dialysis. Since coenzyme Q is the main inhibitor of the prooxidant action of vitamin E, it was hypothesized that its decrease in both the populations examined could make the lipoproteins of these patients more vulnerable to a peroxidative attack.

Diagnóstico Serológico de Tuberculosis por Inmunodott, ensayos preliminares / Serologic diagnostic of tuberculosis by inmunodottand preliminary trials

La tuberculosis es una enfermedad de elevada incidencia en nuestro medio, con gran dificultad en su diagnóstico, por lo cual se plantea la posibilidad de contar con un método adicional que pueda coadyuvar a solucionar este grave problema. En el presente trabajo se pretende establecer un método serológico por inmunodott para diagnóstico de tuberculosis, que permita diferenciar claramente el estado de infección del estado de enfermedad activa. Se trabajó con 33 sueros de pacientes diagnosticados con tuberculosis, 83 de personas aparentemente sanas y 10 de pacientes con otras infecciones. Se estandarizó un método serológico por inmunodott que utiliza papel PVDF Inmobilón como soporte y BCG como antígeno. Se obtuvo el umbral de positividad a partir de una dilución 1/100 de los sueros, con un valor predictivo positivo, negativo y eficiencia del método del 100 por ciento. Aunque estos resultados son preliminares, se observan muy alentadores

Determination of copper, zinc, and selenium in human plasma and urine samples by potentiometric stripping analysis and constant current stripping analysis.

Potentiometric stripping analysis and constant current stripping analysis are proposed as routine methods for analysis of copper, zinc and selenium in plasma and urine samples. The analytical performance of these methods is comparable with that reported for atomic absorption spectrometry. However the low cost, greater simplicity of the apparatus, and the facility of execution make this methodology a valid candidate for routine application in Clinical Chemistry laboratories.

Prueba mejorada para el diagnóstico serológico de Tuberculosis / It tests impoved for the serologic diagnostic of the tuberculosis

El diagnóstico serológico de la tuberculosis es una prioridad en salud a nivel nacional por las condiciones socio-económicas del país y de la enfermedad misma. Las pruebas serológicas diseñadas tanto a nivel nacional como internacional no reúnen las condiciones necesarias de sensibilidad especificidad y valor predictivo del método, dentro los parámetros adecuados. Frecuentemente se encuentra superposición de datos entre población normal sensibilizada y pacientes con la enfermedad activa, haciéndose difícil la discriminación. Con el propósito de mejorar la especificidad del antígeno se procedió a una purificación de PPD, pero esta vez se utilizó un derivado proteico purificado obtenido de un cultivo de la cepa 1077 de Mycobacterium tuberculosis bovis (Vacuna liofilizada Pasteur Merieux) preparado en SELADIS, por cromatografía de afinidad. Se estandarizó la prueba de ELISA indirecto (no competitivo) previa titulación de los inmunoreactantes. Los resultados obtenidos son alentadores, pues se ha incrementado el valor predictivo positivo, que tal vez sea uno de los principales problemas en éste caso, es decir la obtención de valores falsos negativos

A slightly suppressive dose of L-thyroxine does not affect bone turnover and bone mineral density in pre- and postmenopausal women with nontoxic goitre.

There are controversial reports on the potential role of L-thyroxine administration as a risk factor for osteoporosis. We studied bone mass and metabolism in a homogeneous series of 50 Caucasian women, 25 premenopausal and 25 postmenopausal, having nontoxic goitre treated with slightly suppressive L-thyroxine doses (50-200 micrograms/day) with subnormal serum TSH and normal thyroid hormone levels. These patients were matched with 50 controls for age, sex, body mass index, menopausal and thyroid disease. Patients and controls were also investigated for minor determinants of bone loss, such as hereditary and life-style factors. Patients and controls filled in a questionnaire and underwent physical examination, routine laboratory tests and calciotropic and thyroid hormone assay. Bone mineral turnover was evaluated by determining serum osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, calcium, phosphate, urine hydroxyproline/creatinine and calcium/ creatinine ratio. Bone mineral density was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, trochanter and Ward's triangle. No difference in bone mineral density or biochemical markers was found between patients and controls; bone density and turnover were significantly affected by menopausal status. No relationship between bone density or turnover values and L-thyroxine administration was found. A significant positive correlation was found between osteocalcin and the hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients, but not in controls. Our study suggests that slightly suppressive L-thyroxine administration in nontoxic goitre can activate bone turnover but constitutes neither an actual risk factor for bone loss nor, consequently, for osteoporotic fractures.

Coenzyme Q: potentially useful index of bioenergetic and oxidative status of spermatozoa.

The concentration of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a key intermediate of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, was determined in spermatozoa of 13 fertile subjects, 8 potentially fertile patients, and 12 infertile patients. CoQ10 concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in infertile patients than in fertile and potentially fertile subjects. The difference between potentially fertile and fertile subjects was also significant (P < 0.001). We propose that a decrease in consumption of CoQ10 in both infertile and potentially fertile populations is due to an autoregulatory mechanism of ATP production.

Coenzyme Q10 levels, plasma lipids and peroxidation extent in renal failure and in hemodialytic patients.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), vitamin E, triglycerides and conjugated dienes were measured in a group of 48 patients on chronic hemodialysis, in 15 uremic patients and in a control group of 10 normal subjects. CoQ10 levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in both hemodialytic and uremic patients compared with the normal group whereas triglycerides were significantly higher (P < 0.001) with respect to both normal subjects and uremic patients. Conjugated dienes were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in both hemodialytic and uremic patients with respect to normal subjects. The predialytic values of vitamin E were higher in hemodialytic patients with respect to both normal subjects and uremic patients whereas the postdialytic values were in the normal range. A restoration mechanism of vitamin E after hemodialytic treatment was hypothesized.