Tissue damage markers after a spinal manipulation in healthy subjects: a preliminary report of a randomized controlled trial.

Spinal manipulation (SM) is a manual therapy technique frequently applied to treat musculoskeletal disorders because of its analgesic effects. It is defined by a manual procedure involving a directed impulse to move a joint past its physiologic range of movement (ROM). In this sense, to exceed the physiologic ROM of a joint could trigger tissue damage, which might represent an adverse effect associated with spinal manipulation. The present work tries to explore the presence of tissue damage associated with SM through the damage markers analysis. Thirty healthy subjects recruited at the University of Jaén were submitted to a placebo SM (control group; n = 10), a single lower cervical manipulation (cervical group; n = 10), and a thoracic manipulation (n = 10). Before the intervention, blood samples were extracted and centrifuged to obtain plasma and serum. The procedure was repeated right after the intervention and two hours after the intervention. Tissue damage markers creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), troponin-I, myoglobin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and aldolase were determined in samples. Statistical analysis was performed through a 3 × 3 mixed-model ANOVA. Neither cervical manipulation nor thoracic manipulation did produce significant changes in the CPK, LDH, CRP, troponin-I, myoglobin, NSE, or aldolase blood levels. Our data suggest that the mechanical strain produced by SM seems to be innocuous to the joints and surrounding tissues in healthy subjects.

Age and sex-related serum changes in nitric oxide: correlations with serological markers.

Serum nitric oxide levels, systematically determined in 200 men and women from 18 to 65 year-old, undergo age and sex changes that strongly correlate with serological markers such as those related with cardiovascular functions and lipid profile.

Valoración de la determinación de la enzima lactato deshidrogenasa en los trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo / Evaluation of the determination of the lactate-dehydrogenase enzyme in the hypertensive diseases of pregnancy

Introducción: Los trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo (THE), en general, y la preeclampsia, en particular, son algunas de las complicaciones más graves que pueden afectar a madre y feto. Son muchas las pruebas clínicas y de laboratorio que se han utilizado en busca de un indicador de afección de los THE. Entre los segundos destaca la enzima lactato deshidrogenasa (LDH). Objetivo: Valorar la correlación de las distintas formas isoenzimáticas de LDH con los distintos parámetros indicativos de afección y gravedad en los casos de THE. Material y método: Se han estudiado la enzima LDH y cada una de sus 5 isoformas, en 30 pacientes, a las que, en el curso de su gestación, se les encontraron valores de presión arterial (PA) máxima de 140 mmHg y mínima de 90 mmHg. Las determinaciones se efectuaron en suero sanguíneo y la extracción se realizó antes de las 24 h de su ingreso. Resultados: No encontramos correlación entre la LDH total ni de las isoformas 1, 3 y 4, con ninguno de los parámetros estudiados. La LDH-2 sí mostró una fuerte correlación con la transaminasa glutámico-oxalacética (GOT) y la transaminasa glutámico-pirúvica (GPT). La LDH-5 mostró correlación con la proteinuria y la GOT, así como con la PA máxima y el hematocrito. No encontramos correlación alguna entre las PA máxima y mínima (r = 0,266; p = 0,156; n = 30), ni de la máxima con ninguno de los parámetros bioquímicos o hematológicos evaluados. En cambio, encontramos una fuerte correlación positiva entre la PA mínima y los valores de ácido úrico y GOT, que casi fue significativa para la GPT (p = 0,06). Conclusiones: Consideramos que la determinación de la LDH-5 en los casos de THE y su aumento en suero son indicadores, al presentar una fuerte correlación con alteraciones importantes en este cuadro, como la proteinuria, y con las alteraciones hepáticas y hematológicas descritas en esta enfermedad (AU)

Introduction: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and pre-eclampsia in particular, are some of the most serious complications that can affect mother and foetus. Numerous clinical and laboratory tests have been used in the search for an indicator for HDP; amongst the latter, lactate-dehydrogenase enzyme stands out. Objective: To evaluate the correlation of the different isoenzymatic forms of LDH (lactate-dehydrogenase) with the different indicative parameters of affectation and severity for the cases with HDP. Material and methods: Lactate-dehydrogenase enzyme and each of its 5 isoenzymes was studied in 30 patients who, during the course of their pregnancies, were found to have arterial pressure with a maximum value of 140 mm Hg and a minimum value of 90 mm Hg. Measurements were made using serum extracted within 24 hours of their admission. Results: We did not find any correlation between the total LDH and the isoenzymes 1,2,3 and 4 in any of the parameters studied. LDH-2 showed a strong correlation with GOT and GPT. LDH-5 showed correlation with proteinuria and GOT and also with maximum arterial tension and haematocrit. We did not find any correlation between maximum and minimum arterial tension (r=.266, p=.156, n=30), nor of the maximum arterial tension with any of the biochemical or haematological parameters evaluated. However we found a strong positive correlation between minimum arterial tension and uric acid and GOT values and that was almost significant for GPT (p=.06). Conclusions: We consider that the determination of LDH-5 in cases of HDP, and its increase in serum, is an indicator as it presents a strong correlation with important alterations in this clinical picture, such as the proteinuria and the hepatic and haematological alterations described in this pathology (AU)

Secale cereale inter-microsatellites (SCIMs): chromosomal location and genetic inheritance.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to locate Sectale cereale (inter-simple sequence repeat ISSR) or Secale cereale inter-microsatellite (SCIM) markers using wheat-rye addition lines in order to develop a set of molecular markers distributed on the seven rye chromosomes. The number of SCIM markers located on 1R, 2R, 3R, 4R, 5R, 6R and 7R chromosomes were 4, 3, 12, 3, 2, 9 and 8, respectively. Therefore, a total of 41 new SCIMs were located on the seven rye chromosomes. The segregation of the 63 different SCIM markers in three different F2 was studied. The observed ISSR segregations were the 3:1 (50.7%), the 15:1 (12.7%) and the 1:1 (14.2%). The linkage analysis carried out indicated that seven of the segregating SCIMs were linked to chromosome 7R and two were linked to chromosome 4R. The use of the SCIM markers as a source of molecular markers that could be linked to interesting genes or other important agronomic traits is discussed.

A new aluminum tolerance gene located on rye chromosome arm 7RS.

Rye has one of the most efficient groups of genes for aluminum tolerance (Alt) among cultivated species of Triticeae. This tolerance is controlled by, at least, three independent and dominant loci (Alt1, Alt2, and Alt3) located on chromosome arms 6RS, 3RS, and 4RL, respectively. The segregation of Alt genes and several random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Secale cereale inter-microsatellite (SCIM), and Secale cereale microsatellite (SCM) markers in three F(2) between a tolerant cultivar (Ailés) and a non-tolerant inbred line (Riodeva) were studied. The segregation ratio obtained for aluminum tolerance in the three F(2) populations analyzed was 3:1 (tolerant:non-tolerant), indicating that tolerance is controlled by one dominant locus. SCIM811(1376) was linked to an Alt gene in the three F(2) populations studied, and three different SCIMs and one RAPD (SCIM811(1376), SCIM812(626), SCIM812(1138), and OPQ4(725)) were linked to the Alt gene in two F(2) populations. This result indicated that the same Alt gene was segregating in the three crosses. SCIM819(1434) and OPQ4(578) linked to the tolerance gene in one F(2) population were located using wheat-rye ditelosomic addition lines on the 7RS chromosome arm. The Alt locus is mapped between SCIM819(1434) and the OPQ4(578) markers. Two microsatellite loci (SCM-40 and SCM-86), previously located on chromosome 7R, were also linked to the Alt gene. Therefore, the Alt gene segregating in these F(2) populations is new and probably could be orthologous to the Alt genes located on wheat chromosome arm 4DL, on barley chromosome arm 4HL, on rye chromosome arm 4RL, and rice chromosome 3. This new Alt gene located on rye chromosome arm 7RS was named Alt4. A map of rye chromosome 7R with the Alt4 gene, 16 SCIM and RAPD, markers and two SCM markers was obtained.

Effect of thioacetamide and dexamethasone on serum lipids in rats fed on high-fat sunflower or olive oil diets.

We have previously reported that high-fat diets develop hepatic steatosis and, depending on the fat quality, affect serum lipid levels differently (J Nutr Sci Vitaminol, 1997, 43, 155-160). The aim of this work is to study the influence of high-fat diets (14% sunflower or olive oils) on serum lipids in a model of hepatic acute damage induced by thioacetamide, and their influence when dexamethasone is administered before thioacetamide injection. Serum lipids and hepatic collagen have been evaluated using biochemical methods, and the steatotic process by histological staining. The results showed that hepatic steatosis and fibrosis are developed either by high-fat diets or thioacetamide injection. Pretreatment with dexamethasone did not decrease the hepatic collagen content. Thioacetamide injection alone or pretreatment with dexamethasone produced increase in serum tryglicerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C in both high-fat diet groups, and a HDL-C increase in the olive-oil group, even though the atherogenic indices (HDL/TC and HDL/TG) were different depending on the enriched diet. The administration of high-fat diets to study the influence of the fat quality on health and disease should be interpreted carefully due to the ability of the diets themselves to cause hepatic damage.

High-fat sunflower and olive oil diets affect serum lipid levels in steatotic rat liver differently.

This work describes the long-term effects of two different diets, one rich in olive oil and the other in sunflower oil, on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels after the establishment of fatty liver in rats 8 and 15 months old. The serum lipid and lipoprotein levels as well as the steatotic process have been evaluated by biochemical and histological methods, respectively. The results showed that fatty liver was well developed with both long-term high-fat diets, and hepatocytes were filled with many lipid droplets. This process was more evident in the portal zones, where fat hepatocytes were more numerous. Serum total cholesterol (TC) and HDL-C levels were highest in the sunflower oil fed rats, whereas the TG and LDL-C levels were highest in the olive oil group. Finally, the atherogenic indexes (HDL/TC, HDL/LDL, HDL/(TC-HDL)) were higher in the sunflower oil diet group than in the olive oil group.

Iron absorption by humans and swine from Fe(III)-EDTA. Further studies.

Studies on iron absorption from Na59Fe-EDTA in humans have shown that only a small proportion of the iron absorbed is excreted by the kidney, less than 1% of the dose administered. The pathway of Na55Fe-[2-14C]EDTA absorption and excretion when administered orally was studied in swine. A certain proportion (about 5%) of the 55Fe is split from the EDTA complex in the lumen of the gut, absorbed mainly from the pylorus and upper jejunum, transferred to plasma transferrin and then incorporated into the circulating hemoglobin. A small proportion of the iron absorbed, less than 1% of the dose administered, is excreted by the kidney, to a degree similar to that excreted by humans. The rest of the iron is eliminated in the feces, about 3% in a soluble form possibly still bound to EDTA and the greater part, about 92%, in an insoluble form. About 5% of the 14C is absorbed almost uniformly along the pyloric duodenal and jejunal mucosa, then transferred slowly to the plasma and excreted by the kidney within 48 hours. The rest of the 14C was excreted in the feces, about 80% in a soluble form and 20% in the insoluble fraction.