Cardiovascular activity of milk casein-derived tripeptides and plant sterols in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effect of chronic treatment with fermented milk products containing bioactive tripeptides and plant sterols on blood pressure and vascular function was investigated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Six-weeks old male SHR (n=36) were randomized into 4 groups by body weight and blood pressure to receive either Lactobacillus helveticus fermented standard milk product (containing tripeptides Ile-Pro-Pro, Val-Pro-Pro and Leu-Pro-Pro), test product with enzymatically produced tripeptides without or with plant sterols or control product without the active constituents for 8 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly using the tail-cuff method. Thoracic aorta and mesenteric artery were excised for vascular response measurements. At the end, SBP values vs. control product group were: standard product group -14 mmHg (P<0.05), test product group -12 mmHg and test product +sterols group -7 mmHg. The average daily tripeptide dose was 2.8-5.2 mg/kg. Total serum cholesterol in the test product +sterols group tended to be lower than in the test product group (P=0.10) whereas serum plant sterol (campesterol, sitosterol) concentrations were higher (P<0.001). In conclusion, bioactive tripeptide-containing milk products attenuated the blood pressure development in SHR. The plant sterols did not improve this effect. Vascular responses did not markedly differ between the groups, except that endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) -related aortic relaxation was demonstrated in the test product +sterols group.

Low-temperature reaction of trialkoxysilanes on silica gel: a mild and controlled method for modifying silica surfaces.

The room temperature reaction of 4-(triethoxysilyl)butyronitrile, 4-TBN ((C2H5O)3Si(CH2)3CN), on weakly hydrated silica samples pretreated at 393 K has been studied by desorption experiments and by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy at different aging times under various water partial pressures. The reaction is demonstrated by the decrease of desorption of 4-TBN with time and the simultaneous disappearance of the 2980 and 1394 cm(-1) signals in the DRIFT spectra, assigned to the CH3 moiety of the ethoxy functions. Water partial pressure is shown to have a crucial effect on the rate and efficiency of the process as, after 6 days, for samples kept at room temperature under vacuum, ca. 50% of the silane has reacted, while for those kept in a water-saturated atmosphere the silane reaction reaches 96%. Although the silane appears to be irreversibly bonded to the surface, no definite conclusion may be drawn from these preliminary results as to the nature of the bonding (grafting or coating). These samples are compared to modified silicas prepared according to conventional methods. The same extent of silane reaction (50%) is achieved for preadsorbed samples kept under vacuum and either cured at 473 K for 30 h or kept at room temperature for 6 days. A mild and controlled modification of silica by triethoxysilanes can thus be achieved by first physisorbing known amounts of the modifying silanes from an organic solvent on pretreated silica and then letting the samples mature for a few days at room temperature in a water-saturated atmosphere.

Celiprolol augments the effect of physical exercise on insulin sensitivity and serum lipid levels in chronic heart failure.

PURPOSE: Impaired insulin sensitivity has been linked with chronic heart failure (CHF). Exercise has a beneficial effect on insulin sensitivity in healthy subjects. It is used also as an adjunctive therapy in patients with CHF. We studied the effect of randomized treatment with celiprolol, a vasodilating beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist, 200 mg once daily (n=20) or placebo (n=11) on serum lipid levels and insulin sensitivity in patients with CHF. In addition, all subjects participated in a 6-month exercise training protocol. Thirteen subjects in the celiprolol and eight subjects in the control group were on additional beta(1)-adrenoceptor antagonist as part of their tailored CHF therapy. Insulin sensitivity was determined using the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp test (diabetic subjects excluded, n=11 for the celiprolol group and n=8 for the placebo group). RESULTS: Insulin sensitivity index (ISI) increased by 33% (P<0.05) in the celiprolol group and by 17% (NS) in the control group. The mean increase in the whole group was 20% [from 68.2+/-11.5 to 81.7+/-10.7 ml/min/kg (mU/l), P<0.05]. No change was found in the total cholesterol level. HDL cholesterol levels increased by 12% (from 0.98+/-0.05 to 1.10+/-0.05 mmol/l, P<0. 005), and HDL/total cholesterol and HDL/LDL cholesterol ratios by 15% and 16%, respectively (P<0.005). The increase in serum fasting HDL cholesterol level was greater in the celiprolol-treated group (P<0.05). At baseline ISI correlated with maximal oxygen uptake (r=0. 65, P<0.0001) and body mass index (r=-0.55, P<0.001). The change in ISI correlated weakly with the improvement in muscle exercise capacity (r=0.53, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Insulin sensitivity and serum lipid levels may be favorably affected by exercise training in subjects with mild-to-moderate CHF. Celiprolol, a vasodilating beta1- selective adrenoceptor antagonist, potentiates this effect.

[Upper digestive hemorrhage in the operated stomach (Billroth I and II): clinical course and prognosis]. / Hemorragia digestiva alta en el estómago operado (Billroth I y II): curso y pronóstico.

AIM: To determine course and prognosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in gastrectomized patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have conducted a retrospective study on 34 patients (one female, mean age 38.2 +/- 12.14 years) admitted with upper gastrointestinal bleeding between November 1989 and August 1991. All patients had been previously gastrectomized because of benign gastric pathology. Eight had a Billroth I type gastrectomy, and 26 a Billroth II. RESULTS: The causes of gastrointestinal bleeding were recurrent ulcer in 20 patients and alkaline reflux gastritis in 13 patients, both located at the surgical anastomosis; in one case it was not possible to determine the lesion responsible of the bleeding. Initial symptoms were maelena in 16 patients (47%), hematemesis in 12 patients (35.2%) and hematemesis and maelena in 6 (17.6%). Only one patient developed hemodynamic changes (systolic arterial tension < 10 mm Hg and pulse > 100 pm). After admission 3 patients rebled (8.8%) and the mortality reached 8.8%. Although rebleeding and mortality rates were higher than the rates for peptic ulcer in non gastrectomized patients, mortality and rebleeding occurred in patients with severe diseases (chronic hepatopathy), whose evolution conditioned in 2 of 3 patients the course of the upper gastrointestinal bleeding. CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of bleeding was not influenced by the causal lesion or the gastric resective procedure. We conclude that the course and prognosis of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in gastrectomized patients is not severe; hemostatic surgical procedures are indicated in only a minority of patients.

Cuantificación de interferón alfa 2b humano recombinante mediante anticuerpos monoclonales / Quantitation of recombinant human alpha 2b interferon with monoclonal antibodies

Se obtuvieron hibridomas secretores de anticuerpos monoclonales (AcM) contra el IFN alfa-2 humano recombinante (rh*IFN) mediante la hibridación de linfocitos esplénicos de ratones inmunizados y el mieloma P3/x63.Ag8.653. En el tamizaje de las células secretoras de anticuerpos específicos se emplearon sistemas microELISA, con el antígeno unido directamente a la fase sólida, o mediante otro AcM anti rh*IFN. Se seleccionaron nueve clones de hibridomas específicos para rh*IFN, de los cuales se escogió el secretor de AcM denominado CB-IFNA2.4 para los experimentos de desarrollo de un sistema ELISA tipo sandwich. Empleando el AcM CB-IFNA2.3 como anticuerpo de captura y el CB-IFNA2.4 conjugado con peroxidasa, se construyó un sistema ELISA sandwich capaz de detectar 1 ng de antígeno por milimetro. Se realizó un estudio de optimización de los diferentes pasos del ELISA y del reconocimiento del antígeno, cuando este es sometido a distintos tratamientos desnaturalizantes. Este sistema se ha empleado exitosamente en el seguimiento del proceso de producción y purificación del rh*IFN. En experimentos preliminares con ratas inoculadas con esta molecula, se denostró que este ELISA puede detectar su presencia en suero (AU)

Cuantificación de interferón alfa 2b humano recombinante mediante anticuerpos monoclonales / Quantitation of recombinant human alpha 2b interferon with monoclonal antibodies

Se obtuvieron hibridomas secretores de anticuerpos monoclonales (AcM) contra el IFN alfa-2 humano recombinante (rh*IFN) mediante la hibridación de linfocitos esplénicos de ratones inmunizados y el mieloma P3/x63.Ag8.653. En el tamizaje de las células secretoras de anticuerpos específicos se emplearon sistemas microELISA, con el antígeno unido directamente a la fase sólida, o mediante otro AcM anti rh*IFN. Se seleccionaron nueve clones de hibridomas específicos para rh*IFN, de los cuales se escogió el secretor de AcM denominado CB-IFNA2.4 para los experimentos de desarrollo de un sistema ELISA tipo sandwich. Empleando el AcM CB-IFNA2.3 como anticuerpo de captura y el CB-IFNA2.4 conjugado con peroxidasa, se construyó un sistema ELISA sandwich capaz de detectar 1 ng de antígeno por milimetro. Se realizó un estudio de optimización de los diferentes pasos del ELISA y del reconocimiento del antígeno, cuando este es sometido a distintos tratamientos desnaturalizantes. Este sistema se ha empleado exitosamente en el seguimiento del proceso de producción y purificación del rh*IFN. En experimentos preliminares con ratas inoculadas con esta molecula, se denostró que este ELISA puede detectar su presencia en suero

Clinical findings and return to work after heart valve replacement.

One hundred and thirteen patients operated during the years 1971 to 1976, were re-examined at an average of 26.3 months after heart valve replacement. The functional capacity assessed by the NYHA-classification improved in about 40% of the patients. About 80% considered their symptoms and well-being to have improved after the operation. At the re-examination, heart size was most often enlarged in patients with mitral valve replacement. The average work load measured in bicycle ergometer test was higher in patients with aortic valve replacement compared to those with mitral valve replacement. Patients with aortic valve replacements were working more often (54%) than those with mitral valve replacements (37%). The mean age of patients who were working was significantly lower than in patients who were retired. There was a statistically significant relation between the physical working capacity and the working status. The employability assessed by history and clinical findings corresponded well to the actual work situation in individual patients.