Effects of minor constituents (non-glyceride compounds) of virgin olive oil on plasma lipid concentrations in male Wistar rats.

We aimed to assess the effects of minor constituents (MC) from virgin olive oil upon the plasma lipid profile of experimental animals. Therefore, 32 Wistar rats were fed for 6 weeks with one of four different diets with a similar fatty acid composition but different MC: high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO), virgin olive oil (VOO), 400%-MC enriched olive oil (EOO) and MC poor (impoverished) olive oil (IOO). At the end of the week 6 of dietary treatment, blood samples were obtained for analysis of lipid composition. A statistically significant influence was observed upon both total HDL (1.593+/-0.4, 1.204+/-0.212, 0.991+/-0.244 and 0.827+/-0.279 mmol/L for EOO, HOSO, VOO and IOO, respectively, Kruskal-Wallis test, P<0.05) and HDL(2)cholesterol levels (1.16+/-0.26, 0.576+/-0.191, 0.585+/-0.216 and 0.583+/-0.207 mmol/L for EOO, HOSO, VOO and IOO, respectively, Kruskal-Wallis test, P<0.05). No statistically significant effect was observed upon LDL-cholesterol or triglycerides. Thus, MC supplementation has beneficial effects on HDL concentrations in Wistar rats.

[Adrenal gland pseudocyst: 2 cases manifesting with acute abdominal pain and shock]. / Pseudoquiste suprarrenal: dos casos manifestados por dolor abdominal agudo y shock.

OBJECTIVE: To describe two cases of adrenal pseudocyst that presented as acute abdomen and shock. METHODS: Two cases of adrenal pseudocyst are presented: one patient was a 69-year-old woman who presented with shock and pain in the left hypochondrium and the other was a 23-year-old woman who complained of dizziness and pain in the left hypochondrium. RESULTS: US and CT evaluation showed a heterogeneous cystic mass. Blood analysis showed low hematocrit and hemoglobin levels. Surgical resection of the retroperitoneal cystic mass was performed. The pathological analysis disclosed an adrenal pseudocyst. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal pseudocyst is an uncommon lesion that infrequently causes symptoms and rarely presents as acute abdomen. Ultrasound and CT are the most useful diagnostic imaging methods. Treatment is by surgery if the lesion is large and symptomatic, if it cannot be clearly distinguished from a tumor, and if massive hemorrhage occurs.

[The relation between the viscosity of enteral nutrition products and delays or interruptions in the infusion rate selected]. / Relación entre la viscosidad de los productos de nutrición enteral y los retrasos o interrupciones del ritmo de infusión seleccionado.

Enteral nutrition infusion systems block or suffer alterations to the infusion rate selected at the pump, creating significant problems in the clinic. The manufacturers insist on the important of not using fine-bore catheters when products are viscous, but they provide no specific data correlating bore with maximum advisable viscosity. Experimental work was carried out in order to relate these variable and fix a pattern for selection of nutrients according to their physical properties and a particular catheter bore. The results of our study indicate that none of the products currently of the market for enteral nutrition creates problems with the selected infusion rate, nor blocking of a probe of minimum bore (6 CH). Thus the complications attributed to catheter bore or the physical characteristics of a product are attributable to the poor preparation of the product or improper handling or care of catheters and infusion systems.