Decreased basal insulin secretion from pancreatic islets of pups in a rat model of maternal obesity.

Maternal obesity (MO) is a deleterious condition that enhances susceptibility of adult offspring to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. The objective is to study the effect of MO on in vitro insulin secretion and pancreatic cellular population in offspring. We hypothesize that a harmful antenatal metabolic environment due to MO diminishes the basal glucose-responsive secretory function of pancreatic beta cells in offspring. Mothers were fed a control (C) or high-fat diet from weaning through pregnancy (120 days) and lactation. At postnatal days (PNDs) 36 and 110, pups were killed, peripheral blood was collected and pancreatic islets were isolated. Basal insulin secretion was measured in vitro in islets for 60 min. It was found that blood insulin, glucose and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index were unaffected by maternal diet and age in females. However, male MO offspring at PND 110 showed hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance compared with C. Body weight was not modified by MO, but fat content was higher in MO pups compared with C pups. Triglycerides and leptin concentrations were higher in MO than in C offspring in all groups except in females at PND 36. Pancreatic islet cytoarchitecture was unaffected by MO. At PND 36, islets of male and female C and MO offspring responded similarly to glucose, but at PND 110, male and female MO offspring islets showed a 50% decrease in insulin secretion. It was concluded that MO impairs basal insulin secretion of offspring with a greater impact on males than females, and this effect mainly manifests in adulthood.

Differential mRNA expression of alpha and beta estrogen receptor isoforms and GnRH in the left and right side of the preoptic and anterior hypothalamic area during the estrous cycle of the rat.

Asymmetric mRNA expression was found in preoptic anterior and hypothalamic anterior areas of the two estrogen receptor isoforms and the gonadotropin-releasing hormone. On the right side of these areas, estrogen receptor alpha mRNA expression reached its peak on estrus day, while on the left side the peak was reached on proestrus day. Estrogen receptor beta mRNA expression peaked on both sides on the same day, diestrous-2 day, but at different hours, showing a sustained expression for the next measured hour on the left side, while peaking and dropping abruptly on the right side. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone also peaked on both sides on diestrous-2 day, being the left side peak expression significantly lower than the peak expression at the right side. The side expression differences suggest that different sides of the before mentioned areas may play different roles of endocrine reproductive functions, while differences of expression at different times may suggest interaction between sides for the same functions.

Vacunas adsorbidas: ¡no congelar! / Vaccines inactived: ¡not to freeze!

Las vacunas inactivadas son vacunas a base de gérmenes muertos, enteros o fraccionados, que generalmente requieren la presencia de un agente adyuvante que adsorbe los antígenos y los libera lentamente para garantizar una respuesta inmunológica adecuada. Los adyuvantes más utilizados son las sales de aluminio como el hidróxido y el fosfato de aluminio, de los cuales se conoce su eficacia y seguridad. Sin embargo, su presencia es indicativo de que la vacuna deberá ser conservada a una temperatura de entre 2 y 8° C y evitar su congelación, ya que pierden su estructura coloidal, cristalizando, lo cual ocasiona además de la pérdida de potencia de la vacuna, severas reacciones locales. En este trabajo se evaluó la relación que existe entre el tiempo de congelación, el aspecto macro y microscópico de diferentes tipos de vacunas adsorbidas y la posibilidad de determinar a simple vista si la vacuna sufrió congelación. Los resultados señalan que no se puede establecer relación entre la velocidad de congelación, el tipo de vacuna, envase en que se encuentra y la aparición de cristales y partículas. Todas las muestras desarrollaron cristalización en apenas 1 hora de estar sometidas a temperatura de -20°C, aun cuando la mayoría se encontraba en estado líquido y sin presencia de partículas visibles a simple vista. La cristalización fue fácilmente observada en microscopio óptico, siendo una forma rápida y confiable para determinar si una vacuna adsorbida sufrió congelación y evitar así su administración

HIV risk behaviors and HIV seropositivity among young injection drug users

Although injection drug use (IDU) is the major risk category for HIV infection in Puerto Rico and injection drug users start their drug injection careers very young, there is little information related to drug injection patterns of young IDUs. In this paper we report on factors found to be associated with HIV seropositivity among 255 young IDUs (16-24 years old). Overall, 23.5 per cent subjects were HIV seropositive. Being 22 to 24 years old, having dropped out of school, having a history of incarceration, and having been diagnosed with STDs, and initiating drug use injection before 17 years of age were the factors significantly related to HIV seropositivity. Findings suggest that prevention programs should begin early in the development of youngsters. Special HIV and STD preventive programs for youngsters at risk of leaving school before completing high school should be a priority

Anomalías de desarollo sexual en Puerto Rico: estado de situación / Abnormalities of sexual development in Puerto Rico: status report

Puerto Rico presenta el mayor número de casos conocidos de anomalias de desarrollo sexual en infantes, niños y adolescentes. Los autores han evaluado sobre 3100 pacientes en un período aproximado de 19 años. Diversos estudios clínicos y de laboratorio sugieren una posible contaminación de carnes, pollo y derivados de éstos con sustancias estrogénicas. Una dieta modificada, libre de estos alimentos, causa una mejoría clínica y/o de laboratorio en un número significativo de pacientes. Un estudio preliminar en alimentos utilizados en el engorde de pollos sugiere la contaminación por Fusarium sp, hongo que puede producir micotoxinas con efecto estrogénico. Al presente, diversos investigadores, privados y de gobierno, llevan a cabo diversos estudios. Sin embargo, se precisa de una acción más vigorosa y fiscalizadora. Consideramos imprescindible un estudio específico de los alimentos de engorde para determinar la presencia de contaminantes con efecto hormonal. La persistencia de estas anomalías debe deterner-se por sus posibles consecuencias a largo plazo