[LH-FSH ratio and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A forgotten test?]. / Proporción LH-FSH y síndrome de ovario poliquístico: ¿prueba olvidada o no útil?

OBJECTIVE: To identify the predictive value of LH-FSH ratio in the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome diagnosis and to evaluate its role according PCOS phenotypes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A descriptive, comparative, observational, prospective study of PCOS patients and its controls. All participants received a questionnaire and underwent a physical and transvaginal ultrasound examination. Blood samples were also collected for analysis of metabolic markers and hormones. PCOS was diagnosed according to Rotterdam criteria. RESULTS: A total of 267 women were included into the study. PCOS was diagnosed in 162 patients. There was statistical difference in: HOMA, 1.43 ± 1.06, 2.09 ± 1.96; Total Testosterone, 0.31 ± 0.14, 0.41 ± 0.19; and free Androgen index, 1.17 ± 1.30, 1.69 ± 1.18; for control and PCOS group, respectively. FSH, 6.55 ± 2.43 in controls and 5.30 ± 1.66 in PCOS patients (p = 0.001); LH, 4.34 ± 2.12 controls, 6.36 ± 4.61 PCOS patients (p = 0.001). LH-FSH ratio was 0.71 ± 0.39 for control group and 1.25 ± 0.85 in PCOS group, p = 0.001. A correlation was observed between LH-FSH ratio and total antral follicle count (p < 0.001) and with insulin resistance (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: LH-FSH ratio, although it is a valuable test, it is not diagnostic of PCOS. A correlation was found with LH-FSH ratio and insulin resistance but we must not forget about its association with hyperandrogenism.

The effect of furanoheliangolides from Tithonia diversifolia on superoxide anion generation in human neutrophils.

Four known lactones were isolated from Tithonia diversifolia: furanoheliangolides 1,3-dihydroxy-3,10-epoxy-8-(-2-methylpropanoyloxy)-germacra-11(13)-ene-6,12-olide (1), 1,3-dihydroxy-3,10-epoxy-8-(2-methylpropanoyloxy)-germacra-4,11(13)-diene-6,12-olide (2), 1,3-dimethoxy-3,10-epoxy-8-(2-methylpropanoyloxy)-germacra-4,11(13)-diene-6,12-olide (3) and, observed in natural source for the first time, furanoheliangolide 1-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,10-epoxy-8-(2-methylpropanoyloxy)-germacra-4,11(13)-diene-6,12-olide (4). The activity of sesquiterpene lactones on superoxide anion (O(2)(o)(-)) generation from PMA-activated neutrophils was evaluated. Compound 1 did not show a full dose dependent behavior. The IC(100) was 8+/-1, 12+/-1, and 17+/-3 microM for 2 to 4, respectively.

Escherichia coli de floragastrointestinal normal como reservorio de resistencia a antibioticos en una poblacion infantil dela ciudad deLa Paz / Escherichia coli of normal gastrointestinal flora like reservorio of resistance to antibioticos in an infantile population of the City of La Paz

La resistencia a antibióticos es un problema de salud pública creciente a nivel mundial. Se han identificado altos niveles de multirresistencia principalmente en cepas patógenas de Escherichia coli. Las investigaciones 1 recientes han sido dirigidas hacia la determinación ck fi resistencia en cepas no patógenas de E. coli. En e: fi presente estudio se determina la resistencia antibioticos en cepas de E coh de la flora gastromtestma normal provementes de niños en la ciudad de La Paz Las pruebas de susceptibilidad mostraron resistenci a cefradina (69 porciento) gentamicma (58 porciento) tetraclchna (54 porciento) y estreptomicina (54 porciento) y menores frecuencias a ampicihna (37 porciento) cotnmoxazol (37 porciento) amoxicilina (2 porciento) y cloramfenicol (13 porciento) Se encontro variabilidad d respuesta a antibioticos (63 porciento) entre clones provemente de una misma cepa No se establecieron perfiles d resistencia caractensticos en la poblacion debido a 1 heterogeneidad de marcadores de resistencia S encontró mayor resistencia a antibióticos en zona penurbanas (54 porciento) con una diferencia sigmficativa e relacion a zonas residenciales (32 porciento) En conclusioi las altas frecuencias de resistencia a antibioticc ff1 encontrada en cepas bacterianas de flora gastrointestin normal demuestra que Escherichia coh se constituye c reservono y potencial transportador y disemmador resistencia a antibioticos

Effects of aspirin or basic amino acids on collagen cross-links and complications in NIDDM.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if long-term therapy with aspirin or basic amino acids for subjects with NIDDM reduces the severity of clinical complications and/or reduces tissue levels of markers of glycooxidative damage. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Subjects with NIDDM were administered either aspirin (100 mg/day) or a combination of basic amino acids consisting of L-arginine (2 g/day) plus L-lysine (0.5 g/day) for 1 year. The study was double-blind and placebo-controlled. The presence and severity of retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy were assessed in all subjects at 4-month intervals, as were serum blood glucose, glycohemoglobin levels, and presence of albuminuria. Collagen cross-linking and collagen glycation were measured in skin collagen obtained by biopsy at the beginning and the end of the study. Skin biopsies were also obtained from age-matched control subjects. RESULTS: Skin samples obtained from NIDDM subjects at the beginning of the study had significantly increased levels of glucitolyllysine, pentosidine, and hydroxypyridinium, as compared with age-matched control subjects. Pentosidine levels were significantly correlated with severity of retinopathy and neuropathy, but not nephropathy. Subjects receiving aspirin, but not amino acids or placebo, had significantly decreased levels of skin pentosidine after 1 year of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that 1) low-dose aspirin may reduce glycooxidative damage in people with NIDDM, and 2) treatment may need to continue for more than 1 year before clinical status improves.