UNITY: A low-field magnetic resonance neuroimaging initiative to characterize neurodevelopment in low and middle-income settings.

Measures of physical growth, such as weight and height have long been the predominant outcomes for monitoring child health and evaluating interventional outcomes in public health studies, including those that may impact neurodevelopment. While physical growth generally reflects overall health and nutritional status, it lacks sensitivity and specificity to brain growth and developing cognitive skills and abilities. Psychometric tools, e.g., the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, may afford more direct assessment of cognitive development but they require language translation, cultural adaptation, and population norming. Further, they are not always reliable predictors of future outcomes when assessed within the first 12-18 months of a child's life. Neuroimaging may provide more objective, sensitive, and predictive measures of neurodevelopment but tools such as magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are not readily available in many low and middle-income countries (LMICs). MRI systems that operate at lower magnetic fields (< 100mT) may offer increased accessibility, but their use for global health studies remains nascent. The UNITY project is envisaged as a global partnership to advance neuroimaging in global health studies. Here we describe the UNITY project, its goals, methods, operating procedures, and expected outcomes in characterizing neurodevelopment in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Time of the day of exercise impact on cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effect of a single bout of morning vs. evening exercise on cardiovascular risk factors in adults. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic search of studies was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science from inception to June 2022. Selected studies accomplished the following criteria: crossover design, acute effect of exercise, blood pressure, blood glucose, and/or blood lipids as the study's endpoint, a washout period of at least 24 h, and adults. Meta-analysis was performed by analyzing: 1) separated effect of morning and evening exercise (pre vs. post); and 2) comparison between morning and evening exercise. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included for systolic and diastolic blood pressure and 10 studies for blood glucose. Meta-analysis revealed no significant difference between morning vs. evening exercise for systolic blood pressure (g ∆ = 0.02), diastolic blood pressure (g ∆ = 0.01), or blood glucose (g ∆ = 0.15). Analysis of moderator variables (age, BMI, sex, health status, intensity and duration of exercise, and hour within the morning or evening) showed no significant morning vs. evening effect. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we found no influence of the time of the day on the acute effect of exercise on blood pressure neither on blood glucose.

Neurocognitive correlates of the varied domains of outcomes at 20 year follow-up of first-episode psychosis.

Little is known about long-term outcomes of the first episode of psychosis (FEP) other than in the symptomatic domain. We hypothesised that cognitive impairment is associated with poorer multi-domain outcomes at a long-term follow-up of FEP patients. We followed-up 172 FEP patients for a mean of 20.3 years. Ten outcome dimensions were assessed (symptomatic, functional and personal recovery, social disadvantage, physical health, suicide attempts, number of episodes, current drug use, chlorpromazine equivalent doses (CPZ), and schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder final diagnosis). Cognition was assessed at follow-up. Processing speed and verbal memory deficits showed significant associations with poor outcomes on symptomatic, social functioning, social disadvantage, higher number of episodes, and higher CPZ. Significant associations were found between visual memory impairments were significantly associated with low symptomatic and functional recovery, between attentional deficits and a final diagnosis of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, and between social cognition deficits and poor personal recovery.Lower cognitive global scores were significantly associated with all outcome dimensions except for drug abuse and physical status. Using multiple outcome dimensions allowed for the inclusion of the patients' perspective and other commonly neglected outcome measures. Taken together, cognitive impairment in FEP patients is strongly related to poor performance on several outcome dimensions beyond symptomatic remission.

Protocolo de actuación en pacientes con sospecha de porfiria aguda / Protocol for patients with suspected acute porphyria

Las porfirias son errores congénitos del metabolismo de las porfirinas o ruta biosintética del hemo. El acúmulo de los precursores de las porfirinas, ácido delta aminolevulínico (ALA) y/o porfobilinógeno (PBG) es responsable de las crisis neuroviscerales de las porfirias agudas que cuando se expresan clínicamente se inician con intenso dolor abdominal. Durante las crisis la eliminación urinaria de PBG y ALA siempre es muy elevada. La excesiva concentración de PBG en orina es fácilmente identificable mediante el sencillo test de Hoesch. Un test negativo descarta crisis porfírica actual. El protocolo de actuación en pacientes con dolor abdominal agudo no filiado en los que el test de Hoesch positivo permite la sospecha de porfiria aguda se basa en los siguientes aspectos: valoración clínica inicial en el servicio de urgencias, supresión de los posibles factores desencadenantes, tratamiento específico de la crisis con hemina y/o sobrecarga de glucosa y tratamiento sintomático

Porphyrias are a group of congenital errors in porphyrin metabolism and in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Accumulation of porphyrin precursors (delta-aminolaevulinic acid and porphobilinogen) is responsible for the neurovisceral crises of acute porphyria, which, when expressed clinically, start with intense abdominal pain. During crises, the urinary elimination of porphobilinogen and delta-aminolaevulinic acid is always very high. Excessive porphobilinogen concentration in urine is easily identified using the simple Hoesch test. A negative test rules out a current porphyric crisis. The clinical protocol for patients with acute abdominal pain of unknown origin in whom a positive Hoesch test leads to the suspicion of acute porphyria is based on the following aspects: initial clinical assessment in the emergency department, suppression of potential triggers, specific treatment for the crisis with hemin and/or glucose overload and symptomatic treatment

Protocol For Patients With Suspected Acute Porphyria. / Protocolo de actuación en pacientes con sospecha de porfiria aguda.

Porphyrias are a group of congenital errors in porphyrin metabolism and in the heme biosynthetic pathway. Accumulation of porphyrin precursors (delta-aminolaevulinic acid and porphobilinogen) is responsible for the neurovisceral crises of acute porphyria, which, when expressed clinically, start with intense abdominal pain. During crises, the urinary elimination of porphobilinogen and delta-aminolaevulinic acid is always very high. Excessive porphobilinogen concentration in urine is easily identified using the simple Hoesch test. A negative test rules out a current porphyric crisis. The clinical protocol for patients with acute abdominal pain of unknown origin in whom a positive Hoesch test leads to the suspicion of acute porphyria is based on the following aspects: initial clinical assessment in the emergency department, suppression of potential triggers, specific treatment for the crisis with hemin and/or glucose overload and symptomatic treatment.

Effectiveness and Safety of the Switch from Remicade® to CT-P13 in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate the clinical outcomes in patients with IBD after switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 in comparison with patients who maintain Remicade®. METHODS: Patients under Remicade® who were in clinical remission with standard dosage at study entry were included. The 'switch cohort' [SC] comprised patients who made the switch from Remicade® to CT-P13, and the 'non-switch' cohort [NC] patients remained under Remicade®. RESULTS: A total of 476 patients were included: 199 [42%] in the SC and 277 [58%] in the NC. The median follow-up was 18 months in the SC and 23 months in the NC [p < 0.01]. Twenty-four out of 277 patients relapsed in the NC; the incidence of relapse was 5% per patient-year. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 2% at 6 months and 10% at 24 months in this group. Thirty-eight out of 199 patients relapsed in the SC; the incidence rate of relapse was 14% per patient-year. The cumulative incidence of relapse was 5% at 6 months and 28% at 24 months. In the multivariate analysis, the switch to CT-P13 was associated with a higher risk of relapse (HR = 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2-6). Thirteen percent of patients had adverse events in the NC, compared with 6% in the SC [p < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 might be associated with a higher risk of clinical relapse, although this fact was not supported in our study by an increase in objective markers of inflammation. The nocebo effect might have influenced this result. Switching from Remicade® to CT-P13 was safe.

Extracolonic Cancer in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Data from the GETECCU Eneida Registry.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was (a) To know the prevalence and distribution of extracolonic cancer (EC) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); (b) To estimate the incidence rate of EC; (c) To evaluate the association between EC and treatment with immunosuppressants and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: IBD and inclusion in the ENEIDA Project (a prospectively maintained registry) from GETECCU. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients with EC before the diagnosis of IBD, lack of relevant data for this study, and previous treatment with immunosuppressants other than corticosteroids, thiopurines, methotrexate, or anti-TNF agents. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the impact of several variables on the risk of EC, and any differences between survival curves were evaluated using the log-rank test. Stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to investigate factors potentially associated with the development of EC, including drugs for the treatment of IBD, during follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 11,011 patients met the inclusion criteria and were followed for a median of 98 months. Forty-eight percent of patients (5,303) had been exposed to immunosuppressants or anti-TNF drugs, 45.8% had been exposed to thiopurines, 4.7% to methotrexate, and 21.6% to anti-TNF drugs. The prevalence of EC was 3.6%. In the multivariate analysis, age (HR=1.05, 95% CI=1.04-1.06) and having smoked (hazards ratio (HR)=1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.10-1.80) were the only variables associated with a higher risk of EC. CONCLUSIONS: Neither immunosuppressants nor anti-TNF drugs seem to increase the risk of EC. Older age and smoking were associated with a higher prevalence of EC.

Uso de la cirugía radiodirigida en el tratamiento quirúrgico del osteoma osteoide / Use of radioguided surgery in the surgical treatment of osteoid osteoma

Objetivo. El osteoma osteoide es el tercer tumor óseo benigno más frecuente, siendo su tratamiento definitivo la resección completa. Existe un limitado número de publicaciones sobre el uso de la cirugía radiodirigida en este tipo de lesiones. Valorar la utilidad de la cirugía radiodirigida en nuestro medio como método de tratamiento quirúrgico de este tumor. Material y métodos. Se valoraron de manera retrospectiva 12 pacientes (2 mujeres y 10 hombres, rango de edad 9-44 años) con sospecha clínica y radiológica de osteoma osteoide. Tras estudio gammagráfico óseo, se localizaron focos hipercaptantes compatibles con la patología de sospecha en el fémur (4 casos), tibia (3), columna vertebral (3), húmero (1) y astrágalo (1). Posteriormente, los enfermos fueron sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico mediante cirugía radiodirigida tras la inyección de una dosis de 99mTc-hidroxidifosfonato. Utilizando gammacámara portátil y sonda de detección gamma se extirpó el nidus, considerando la técnica completada cuando su actividad disminuyó a los niveles presentados por el tejido sano circundante. Resultados. Las lesiones fueron localizadas en todos los pacientes (12 de 12), confirmándose histológicamente en 8 de ellos, incluyendo un osteoblastoma. La tasa de curación, basada en la desaparición del dolor tras seguimiento mínimo de 6 meses, fue del 100%. Conclusión. La utilización en nuestro medio de la cirugía radiodirigida en el tratamiento quirúrgico del osteoma osteoide mostró resultados satisfactorios, con un 100% de eficacia tanto en localización de la lesión como en el resultado del tratamiento, sin presencia de complicaciones posquirúrgicas mayores (AU)

Objective. Osteoid osteoma is the third most common benign bone tumor and complete surgical resection is definitive treatment. There are a limited number of publications on the use of radioguided surgery in this type of lesion. To assess the utility of radioguided surgery in our environment as a method of surgical treatment of this tumor. Material and methods. We retrospectively evaluated 12 patients (2 women and 10 men, age range 9-44 years) with clinical and radiological suspicion of osteoid osteoma. Bone scintigraphy showed foci of pathology uptake compatible with suspected lesion in the femur (4 cases), tibia (3), vertebral column (3), humerus (1) and talus (1). Subsequently patients underwent surgical treatment by radioguided surgery after injection of a dose of 99mTc-hydroxy diphosphonate. The nidus was removed using gamma probe and mini gamma camera, considering the technique to be completed when its counts decreased to the levels of the surrounding bone counts. Results. Lesions were located in all patients (12 of 12), and were confirmed histologically in 8 of them, including an osteoblastoma. The cure rate was 100%, based on the disappearance of pain after a minimum follow-up of 6 months. Conclusion. Use of radioguided surgery in the surgical treatment of osteoid osteoma showed satisfactory results, with 100% efficiency in both lesion location and outcome of treatment and without major postoperative complications (AU)

Volume integrated phase modulator based on funnel waveguides for reconfigurable miniaturized optical circuits.

We demonstrate the integration of a miniaturized 30(x) µm×30(y) µm×2.7(z) mm electro-optic phase modulator operating in the near-IR (λ=980 nm) based on the electro-activation of a funnel waveguide inside a paraelectric sample of photorefractive potassium lithium tantalate niobate. The modulator forms a basic tassel in the realization of miniaturized reconfigurable optical circuits embedded in a single solid-state three-dimensional chip.

[Use of radioguided surgery in the surgical treatment of osteoid osteoma]. / Uso de la cirugía radiodirigida en el tratamiento quirúrgico del osteoma osteoide.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoid osteoma is the third most common benign bone tumor and complete surgical resection is definitive treatment. There are a limited number of publications on the use of radioguided surgery in this type of lesion. To assess the utility of radioguided surgery in our environment as a method of surgical treatment of this tumor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 12 patients (2 women and 10 men, age range 9-44 years) with clinical and radiological suspicion of osteoid osteoma. Bone scintigraphy showed foci of pathology uptake compatible with suspected lesion in the femur (4 cases), tibia (3), vertebral column (3), humerus (1) and talus (1). Subsequently patients underwent surgical treatment by radioguided surgery after injection of a dose of (99m)Tc-hydroxy diphosphonate. The nidus was removed using gamma probe and mini gamma camera, considering the technique to be completed when its counts decreased to the levels of the surrounding bone counts. RESULTS: Lesions were located in all patients (12 of 12), and were confirmed histologically in 8 of them, including an osteoblastoma. The cure rate was 100%, based on the disappearance of pain after a minimum follow-up of 6 months. CONCLUSION: Use of radioguided surgery in the surgical treatment of osteoid osteoma showed satisfactory results, with 100% efficiency in both lesion location and outcome of treatment and without major postoperative complications.

Utilidad de la densitometría como método de valoración del estado nutricional del deportista. Comparación con el índice de masa corporal / The usefulness of densitometry as a method of assessing the nutritional status of athletes. Comparison with body mass index

El índice de masa corporal (IMC) es utilizado para valorar el estado nutricional. En los deportistas su resultado puede estar sobreestimado por un aumento de la masa muscular. Objetivo. Valorar la utilidad de la determinación mediante densitometría de los índices de masa grasa (IMG) y magra (IMM) como indicadores del estado nutricional, comparando los resultados con el IMC. Material y métodos. Se estudiaron 28 deportistas aficionados, jugadores de rugby, de sexo masculino. Tras ser sometidos a una densitometría de cuerpo entero mediante absorciometría dual de rayos X se determinaron, entre otros parámetros, la masa grasa y magra del cuerpo. Se calcularon los IMG (grasa en kg/talla en metros2), IMM (magra en kg/talla en metros2) y el índice de masa muscular apendicular (IMMA, musculatura en brazos y piernas en kg/talla en metros2). Resultados. Utilizando el IMC, 18 jugadores presentaban sobrepeso y 4 obesidad de tipo i . Al considerar el IMG, 7 de estos deportistas presentaban valores normales con IMM e IMMA elevados, uno pasaba de obesidad a sobrepeso y otro de sobrepeso a obesidad. De los 6 jugadores con IMC normal, uno de ellos mostraba exceso de grasa y otro defecto. Los resultados cambiaron la valoración del estado nutricional en el 39% de los jugadores estudiados. Conclusiones. Aunque para la población general el IMC es un parámetro adecuado para la valoración del estado nutricional, en los deportistas debe tenerse en cuenta el porcentaje de grasa y de musculatura determinando sus índices correspondientes. La densitometría de cuerpo entero resulta ser una técnica fiable y sencilla para este propósito(AU)

The body mass index (BMI) is used to assess nutritional status. The result in athletes may be overestimated due to increase in muscle mass. Objective. To assess the usefulness of fat mass index (FMI) and lean mass index (LMI) determination as indicators of nutritional status and to compare the results with BMI. Material and methods. We studied 28 amateur rugby players, male. After being subjected to whole body densitometry by dual X-ray absorptiometry, we determined fat and lean body mass together with other parameters. FMI (fat in kg/height in meters2), LMI (lean in kg/height in meters2) and appendicular muscle mass index (AMMI, arms and legs musculature in kg/height in meters2) were calculated. Results. Using BMI, 18 players were overweight and 4 obese type I. Considering FMI, 7 of them had normal values and high LMI and AMMI, one of them changed from overweight to obese and another one from obese to overweight. Of the 6 players with normal BMI, one of them showed fat excess and another one fat defect. The results changed the assessment of nutritional status in 39% of players. Conclusions. Although BMI is an appropriate parameter in general population for the assessment of nutritional status, in athletes should be taken into account fat and muscle body percentage and their corresponding indexes. The whole body densitometry appears to be a simple and reliable technique for this purpose(AU)

Changes in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor after fetal tracheal occlusion in an experimental model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Introduction. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an angiogenic factor secreted by type II pneumocytes, could play a role in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) pathogenesis. Animal studies suggest that VEGF accelerates lung growth. Aim. To quantify VEGF on fetal lungs in a nitrofen rat model for CDH and to analyze the effect of tracheal occlusion (TO) in VEGF in fetal lung rats after nitrofen and in control rats not exposed to nitrofen. Methods. Pregnant rats received nitrofen on day 9.5 of gestation. Fetuses were divided into 2 groups: those that underwent TO on day 20 and those that did not. On day 21, fetuses were delivered, and the lungs were dissected for subsequent VEGF quantification. Results. CDH was detected in 43% of the fetuses that received nitrofen. Fetuses with CDH showed significantly reduced lung weight/fetal weight ratio and lower VEGF levels than the remainder. A higher VEGF value was observed after TO. Conclusions. VEGF protein was significantly lower in fetuses with CDH. TO induced a significant increase in VEGF compared to the fetuses that did not undergo TO. Although not statistically significant, we observed higher VEGF levels in fetuses with CDH and TO compared to fetuses with CDH and no further intervention.

The usefulness of densitometry as a method of assessing the nutritional status of athletes. Comparison with body mass index.

UNLABELLED: The body mass index (BMI) is used to assess nutritional status. The result in athletes may be overestimated due to increase in muscle mass. OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of fat mass index (FMI) and lean mass index (LMI) determination as indicators of nutritional status and to compare the results with BMI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 28 amateur rugby players, male. After being subjected to whole body densitometry by dual X-ray absorptiometry, we determined fat and lean body mass together with other parameters. FMI (fat in kg/height in meters(2)), LMI (lean in kg/height in meters(2)) and appendicular muscle mass index (AMMI, arms and legs musculature in kg/height in meters(2)) were calculated. RESULTS: Using BMI, 18 players were overweight and 4 obese type I. Considering FMI, 7 of them had normal values and high LMI and AMMI, one of them changed from overweight to obese and another one from obese to overweight. Of the 6 players with normal BMI, one of them showed fat excess and another one fat defect. The results changed the assessment of nutritional status in 39% of players. CONCLUSIONS: Although BMI is an appropriate parameter in general population for the assessment of nutritional status, in athletes should be taken into account fat and muscle body percentage and their corresponding indexes. The whole body densitometry appears to be a simple and reliable technique for this purpose.

SPECT-TAC con 67Ga-citrato en el manejo de las espondilodiscitis / SPECT-CT with 67Ga-citrate in the management of spondylodiscitis

La espondilodiscitis afecta a una pequeña proporción de los pacientes con infecciones del aparato locomotor, aunque su diagnóstico es importante por su potencial morbilidad. La resonancia magnética es el método diagnóstico de elección, aunque tiene sus limitaciones y no es adecuada para todos los pacientes. Los estudios gammagráficos para la evaluación de la espondilodiscitis son los realizados con 99mTc-HDP y 67Ga-citrato, pero tienen el inconveniente de su baja resolución. La utilización de equipos híbridos SPECT-TAC (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography-Tomografía computarizada) mejora la detección de la enfermedad al combinar imágenes funcionales y anatómicas. Presentamos 9 pacientes con sospecha de espondilodiscitis, a los que se les realizaron secuencialmente estudios isotópicos con 99mTc-HDP y SPECT-TAC con 67Ga-citrato, con hallazgos positivos que se confirmaron con un seguimiento clínico de al menos 6 meses(AU)

Spondylodiscitis affects a small proportion of all patients with locomotor system infections, however its early diagnosis is important due to its potential morbidity. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic method of choice. Nonetheless, it has certain limitations and is not suitable for all patients. The conventional scintigraphic studies for evaluating spondylodiscitis are those performed with 99mTc-HDP and 67Ga-citrate. However, their poor image resolution is a disadvantage of these techniques. The use of hybrid Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography (SPECT-CT) improves detection of the disease by combining functional and anatomical images. We present 9 patients with suspicion of spondylodiscitis who underwent sequential bone scintigraphy with 99mTc-HDP and SPECT-CT with 67Ga-citrate, with positive findings confirmed by clinical monitoring for at least 6 months(AU)

Genetic testing in the European Union: does economic evaluation matter?

OBJECTIVE: We review the published economic evaluation studies applied to genetic technologies in the EU to know the main diseases addressed by these studies, the ways the studies were conducted and to assess the efficiency of these new technologies. The final aim of this review was to understand the possibilities of the economic evaluations performed up to date as a tool to contribute to decision making in this area. METHODS: We have reviewed a set of articles found in several databases until March 2010. Literature searches were made in the following databases: PubMed; Euronheed; Centre for Reviews and Dissemination of the University of York-Health Technology Assessment, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, NHS Economic Evaluation Database; and Scopus. The algorithm was "(screening or diagnosis) and genetic and (cost or economic) and (country EU27)". We included studies if they met the following criteria: (1) a genetic technology was analysed; (2) human DNA must be tested for; (3) the analysis was a real economic evaluation or a cost study, and (4) the articles had to be related to any EU Member State. RESULTS: We initially found 3,559 papers on genetic testing but only 92 articles of economic analysis referred to a wide range of genetic diseases matched the inclusion criteria. The most studied diseases were as follows: cystic fibrosis (12), breast and ovarian cancer (8), hereditary hemochromatosis (6), Down's syndrome (7), colorectal cancer (5), familial hypercholesterolaemia (5), prostate cancer (4), and thrombophilia (4). Genetic tests were mostly used for screening purposes, and cost-effectiveness analysis is the most common type of economic study. The analysed gene technologies are deemed to be efficient for some specific population groups and screening algorithms according to the values of their cost-effectiveness ratios that were below the commonly accepted threshold of 30,000€. CONCLUSIONS: Economic evaluation of genetic technologies matters but the number of published studies is still rather low as to be widely used for most of the decisions in different jurisdictions across the EU. Further, the decision bodies across EU27 are fragmented and the responsibilities are located at different levels of the decision process for what it is difficult to find out whether a given decision on genetic tests was somehow supported by the economic evaluation results.

SPECT-CT with 67Ga-citrate in the management of spondylodiscitis.

Spondylodiscitis affects a small proportion of all patients with locomotor system infections, however its early diagnosis is important due to its potential morbidity. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic method of choice. Nonetheless, it has certain limitations and is not suitable for all patients. The conventional scintigraphic studies for evaluating spondylodiscitis are those performed with (99m)Tc-HDP and (67)Ga-citrate. However, their poor image resolution is a disadvantage of these techniques. The use of hybrid Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography (SPECT-CT) improves detection of the disease by combining functional and anatomical images. We present 9 patients with suspicion of spondylodiscitis who underwent sequential bone scintigraphy with (99m)Tc-HDP and SPECT-CT with (67)Ga-citrate, with positive findings confirmed by clinical monitoring for at least 6 months.

Adipokine profiles and lipodystrophy in HIV-infected children during the first 4 years on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the evolution of plasma adipokines and lipodystrophy in protease inhibitor-naive vertically HIV-infected children on highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a multicentre retrospective study of 27 children during 48 months on HAART. Every 3 months, CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, viral load (VL), cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins and adipokines were measured. Diagnoses of lipodystrophy were based on clinical examinations. RESULTS: We found hypercholesterolaemia (4200 mg/dL) in 9.5, 30.4, 21.7, 14.3 and 13.3% of the subjects at months 0, 12, 24, 36 and 48, respectively, and hypertriglyceridaemia (4170 mg/dL) in 14.3, 8.3, 13,4.5 and 0% at the same time-points. During follow-up, and especially at the end of the study, we found an increase in plasma resistin levels and significant increases in total plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1, adiponectin, and leptin levels (Po0.05). We also observed slight increases in the leptin/adiponectin ratio, homeostatic model assessment, and C-peptide values during the first months of treatment followed by a moderate decrease or stabilization after 24 months on HAART.At the end of the study, 12 of the 27 children (44.4%) had lipodystrophy, 10 (37%) had lipoatrophy,and 11 (40.7%) had lipohypertrophy; and only three of the 27 children (11.1%) were diagnosed with lipoatrophy and lipohypertrophy with scores 2. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-infected children showed an increase in serum adipokine levels, but this was not associated with the emergence of lipodystrophy during 48 months on HAART.

Site-specific modulation of white adipose tissue lipid metabolism by oleoyl-estrone and/or rosiglitazone in overweight rats.

In spite of their shared decrease of insulin resistance, oleoyl-estrone [OE], and rosiglitazone show diverging effects on body fat mass and distribution. In this study, we studied whether their effects on white adipose tissue [WAT] were due to a shared or synergistic mechanism of action. Combined effects of OE and rosiglitazone 10-day treatment on WAT lipid, cell mass/number, and the expression of key lipid metabolism and regulatory agents were studied using an adult male overweight rat model. OE decreased WAT cell mass and lipids, parameters not changed by rosiglitazone. The effects of OE and--specially--rosiglitazone were more marked in small-cell WAT (i.e., mesenteric and subcutaneous sites) than in larger cell WAT (retroperitoneal and perigonadal). OE decreased the expressions in WAT of lipogenic enzymes, lipoprotein lipase, PPARs, and SREBP1c, effects symmetrically reversed by rosiglitazone. OE showed no effects on hormone-sensitive lipase expression, which was increased by rosiglitazone. OE strongly inhibited WAT lipogenesis, leaving lipolysis unchanged, thus unbalancing (and helping mobilize) WAT lipid stores. Rosiglitazone acted practically only on small-cell WAT sites, where it favored lipogenesis, but also stimulated lipolysis, which resulted in limited changes in lipid stores. Combination of OE and rosiglitazone induced less fat loss than OE alone.