Country-report pattern corrections of new cases allow accurate 2-week predictions of COVID-19 evolution with the Gompertz model.

Accurate short-term predictions of COVID-19 cases with empirical models allow Health Officials to prepare for hospital contingencies in a two-three week window given the delay between case reporting and the admission of patients in a hospital. We investigate the ability of Gompertz-type empiric models to provide accurate prediction up to two and three weeks to give a large window of preparation in case of a surge in virus transmission. We investigate the stability of the prediction and its accuracy using bi-weekly predictions during the last trimester of 2020 and 2021. Using data from 2020, we show that understanding and correcting for the daily reporting structure of cases in the different countries is key to accomplish accurate predictions. Furthermore, we found that filtering out predictions that are highly unstable to changes in the parameters of the model, which are roughly 20%, reduces strongly the number of predictions that are way-off. The method is then tested for robustness with data from 2021. We found that, for this data, only 1-2% of the one-week predictions were off by more than 50%. This increased to 3% for two-week predictions, and only for three-week predictions it reached 10%.

Level function levels and oxidative stress markers in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the Brazilian Amazon.

This study aimed to correlate the values of liver markers with oxidative stress markers in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 30 patients from the Tuberculosis clinic of a referral hospital were admitted to the study. Whole blood samples were collected for analysis of liver enzyme values and oxidative stress markers by spectrophotometry. The prevalence was male (60%) and the 18-29 age group was the most affected. Patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis presented catalase values with a median equal to 6.94 U/gHb and for glutathione, the median was equal to 14.76 µg∕ml. As for the values of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, Gamma-GT and Alkaline phosphatase) the patients had medians equal to 60.50 (U/L); 80 (U/L); 54 (U/L); and 100 (U/L) respectively (p<0.0001). The results suggest a hepatotoxic effect of the drug, which recommends further studies with a larger number of samples in order to investigate the predictors of liver damage in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Deformable liposomes as enhancer of caffeine penetration through human skin in a Franz diffusion cell test.

OBJECTIVE: The permeation of hydrophilic molecules through the skin is still a challenge due to the barrier posed by stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin. Liposomes have frequently been used as carriers for different types of drugs and may also function as permeation enhancers. Propylene glycol has also been used as an edge activator in liposomes to increase the permeation. The aim of this work was to prepare liposomes containing an edge activator and loaded with caffeine to evaluate the potential of caffeine reaching the deeper layers in the skin. METHODS: The formulations were prepared by a top-down process using high-pressure homogenization at 200 00 psi for 10 min. They were characterized by size, polydispersity index (PI), zeta potential (ZP), pH, caffeine content and encapsulation efficiency (EE%) on preparation (time zero) and after 30 days. Cytotoxicity of blank and loaded liposomes was assessed by MTT proliferation assay with a normal keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). In vitro permeation tests were performed with human skin in Franz cells over 24 h, and caffeine concentration was determined in the skin surface, stratum corneum, dermo-epidermal fraction and receptor medium by HPLC. RESULTS: The caffeine liposomes with (DL-Caf) or without propylene glycol (CL-Caf) showed, respectively, mean size 94.5 and 95.4 nm, PI 0.48 and 0.42, ZP + 1.3 and + 18.1 mV and caffeine content of 78.57 and 80.13%. IC50 values of caffeine in DL-Caf (3.59 v/v %) and CL-Caf (3.65 v/v %) were not significantly different from conventional blank liposome (3.27 v/v %). The DL-Caf formulation presented the best capability to enhance the caffeine permeation through the skin, resulting 1.94-folds higher than caffeine solution. Furthermore, the caffeine flux from DL-Caf was 1.56- and 3.05-folds higher than caffeine solution and CL-Caf, respectively. On the other hand, CL-Caf showed the lowest caffeine penetration revealing the importance of edge activator to aid hydrophilic drug penetration to all skin layers. CONCLUSION: The DL-Caf formulation tested was able to improve the permeation of caffeine through the stratum corneum and dermo-epidermal layers, suggesting that this delivery system may be effective for deep skin delivery of hydrophilic drugs.

OBJECTIF: La perm´eation de mol´ecules hydrophiles `a travers lapeau reste un d´efi en raison de la barri`ere oppos´ee par la couchecorn´ee, la couche la plus externe de la peau. Les liposomes ontfr´equemment ´et´e utilis´es comme supports pour diff´erents types dem´edicaments et peuvent ´egalement fonctionner comme des amplificateursde perm´eation. Le propyl`ene glycol a ´egalement ´et´e utilis´ecomme activateur dans les liposomes pour augmenter la perm´eation.Le but de ce travail ´etait de pr´eparer des liposomes contenantun activateur et charg´es de caf´eine pour ´evaluer le potentiel de lacaf´eine atteignant les couches les plus profondes de la peau. MÉTHODES: Les formulations sont pr´epar´ees par homog´en´eisationhaute pression `a 200 00 psi pendant 10 min. Elles sontcaract´eris´es par la taille des liposomes, l'indice de polydispersit´e(PI), le potentiel zˆeta (ZP), le pH, la teneur en caf´eine et l'efficacit´ed'encapsulation (EE%) `a la pr´eparation (temps z´ero) et apr`es 30jours. La cytotoxicit´e des liposomes `a blanc et charg´es est ´evalu´eepar un test de prolif´eration MTT avec une lign´ee cellulaire de k´eratinocytesnormale (HaCaT). Des tests de perm´eation in vitro sontr´ealis´es avec de la peau humaine dans des cellules de Franz pendant24 h, et la concentration de caf´eine est d´etermin´ee `a la surfacede la peau, dans la couche corn´ee, la fraction dermo-´epidermique et le milieu r´ecepteur par HPLC. RÉSULTATS: Les liposomes contenant de la caf´eine avec (DL-Caf)ou sans propyl`ene glycol (CL-Caf) pr´esentent respectivement unetaille moyenne de 94,5 et 95,4 nm, PI 0,48 et 0,42, ZP + 1,3 et +18,1 mV et une teneur en caf´eine de 78,57 et 80,13%. Les valeursIC50 de la caf´eine dans DL - Caf (3,59 %v/v) et CL - Caf (3,65 %v/v) ne sont pas significativement diff´erentes de celles du liposome `ablanc conventionnel (3,27 %v/v). La formulation DL-Caf est cellequi permet la meilleure perm´eation de la caf´eine, avec une quantit´ede caf´eine dans la peau 1,94 fois plus ´elev´ee que la solution decaf´eine. De plus, le flux de caf´eine de DL-Caf est 1,56 et 3,05 foisplus ´elev´e que la solution de caf´eine et CL-Caf, respectivement.D'autre part, CL-Caf montre la plus faible p´en´etration de caf´eine,r´ev´elant l'importance de l'activateur pour aider `a la p´en´etration dela mol´ecule hydrophile dans toutes les couches de la peau. CONCLUSION: La formulation DL-Caf test´ee am´eliore la perm´eationde la caf´eine `a travers la couche corn´ee et les couches dermo-´epidermiques, ce qui sugg`ere que ce syst`eme d'administration peutˆetre efficace pour l'administration cutan´ee profonde de mol´eculeshydrophiles.

Olive oil quality classification and measurement of its organoleptic attributes by untargeted GC-MS and multivariate statistical-based approach.

The capabilities of dynamic headspace entrainment followed by thermal desorption in combination with gas chromatography (GC) coupled to single quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) have been tested for the determination of volatile components of olive oil. This technique has shown a great potential for olive oil quality classification by using an untargeted approach. The data processing strategy consisted of three different steps: component detection from GC-MS data using novel data treatment software PARADISe, a multivariate analysis using EZ-Info, and the creation of the statistical models. The great number of compounds determined enabled not only the development of a quality classification method as a complementary tool to the official established method "PANEL TEST" but also a correlation between these compounds and different types of defect. Classification method was finally validated using blind samples. An accuracy of 85% in oil classification was obtained, with 100% of extra virgin samples correctly classified.

Analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in stack gas emissions by gas chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatography coupled to triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-(QqQ)MS/MS) including a soft-ionization through an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source based method was compared with the high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) standard reference method EN1948, for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) in stack gas emissions. The stack emission samples were collected, both, by manual method sampling (from 6 to 8h) and by long-term sampling systems (sampling time of several weeks). This work presents the first comparison of GC-(QqQ)MS/MS with APCI source with the European Standard EN1948 technique for stack gas emissions. Sample concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 596pg I-TEQ/Nm3. Comparative results in all investigated samples showed relative errors that were within ±15%. These results make GC-(QqQ)MS/MS with APCI suitable for the quantitative analysis of dioxins in the studied samples and create a real alternative tool to the reference sector GC-HRMS instruments.

Agreement between Dietary Intake of Older Adults and Proxy Respondents Assessed by a Food Frequency Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree of agreement of dietary intake reported by the patient subject with the dietary intake reported by a respondent (a next-of-kin or a caregiver), collected by a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). METHODOLOGY: 126 adults, both sexes, the average age was 65.9 years for patients and 54.4 years for respondents. They were recruited from the General Practice Clinic at the Clinical Hospital of São Paulo (AGD-FMUSP). The agreement between the responses given by patients and respondents was assessed using Spearman, weighted Kappa and Bland Altman tests. RESULTS: The analysis for accuracy between responses (Spearman test) showed a moderate degree of agreement (0.31-0.39) for Energy, Total fat, Total Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA), Total Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA). Regarding food groups a moderate agreement was found for the majority of the foods (fruits (0.30), dairy products (0.50), natural juices (0.45), beans (0.48), butter/margarine (0.55), coffee (0.41) and soda (0.45), with the exception of vegetables (0.12) and rice (0.63). The ingestion differences did not exceeded the limit of the two standard deviations for the majority of the pairs (Bland Altman). A respondent subsample composed only of husband/wives (N = 36) revealed a moderate agreement concordance for most macronutrients studied (0.30 - 0.58), except polyunsaturated fats (0.25). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that, the FFQ may be used in cases where is impossible to get the answers directly from the patients.

Quality classification of Spanish olive oils by untargeted gas chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and metabolomics-based statistical approach.

The novel atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source has been used in combination with gas chromatography (GC) coupled to hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry (MS) for determination of volatile components of olive oil, enhancing its potential for classification of olive oil samples according to their quality using a metabolomics-based approach. The full-spectrum acquisition has allowed the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in olive oil samples, including Extra Virgin, Virgin and Lampante qualities. A dynamic headspace extraction with cartridge solvent elution was applied. The metabolomics strategy consisted of three different steps: a full mass spectral alignment of GC-MS data using MzMine 2.0, a multivariate analysis using Ez-Info and the creation of the statistical model with combinations of responses for molecular fragments. The model was finally validated using blind samples, obtaining an accuracy in oil classification of 70%, taking the official established method, "PANEL TEST", as reference.

Evaluation of the capabilities of atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls in complex-matrix food samples.

The use of the novel atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source for gas chromatography (GC) coupled to triple quadrupole using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and its potential for the simultaneous determination of the 12 dioxin-like polychlorobiphenyls (DL-PCBs) in complex food and feed matrices has been evaluated. In first place, ionization and fragmentation behavior of DL-PCBs on the APCI source under charge transfer conditions has been studied followed by their fragmentation in the collision cell. Linearity, repeatability and sensitivity have been studied obtaining instrumental limits of detection and quantification of 0.0025 and 0.005 pg µL(-1) (2.5 and 5 fg on column) respectively for every DL-PCB. Finally, application to real samples has been carried out and DL-PCB congeners (PCB 77, 81, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 156, 157, 167, 169, 189) have been detected in the different samples in the range of 0.40-10000 pg g(-1). GC-(APCI)MS/MS has been proved as a suitable alternative to the traditionally accepted confirmation method based on the use of high resolution mass spectrometry and other triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry techniques operating with electron ionization. The development of MS/MS methodologies for the analysis of dioxins and DL-PCBs is nowadays particularly important, since this technique was included as a confirmatory method in the present European Union regulations that establish the requirements for the determination of these compounds in food and feed matrices.

Childhood tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus status in Brazil: a hierarchical analysis.

SETTING: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection may impact tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, clinical presentation and treatment outcomes in children as the signs and symptoms of both diseases overlap. OBJECTIVE: To compare the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of childhood TB according to HIV status in Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of data on subjects aged <15 years retrieved from the Brazilian National Electronic Disease Registry (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação) database on TB to compare TB-HIV coinfected patients and patients with TB only registered between 2007 and 2011. A hierarchical logistic regression model was applied. RESULTS: Of 6091 cases analysed, 780 (12%) were TB-HIV patients, while 5311 (87%) presented with TB only. TB-HIV patients were more likely to be institutionalised (OR 2.22, 95%CI 1.43-3.46), to present with relapsed TB (OR 5.03, 95%CI 2.02-12.5) and be readmitted after treatment default (OR 16.7, 95%CI 4.34-64.46). They were also more likely to have unfavourable outcomes, including default (OR 2.85, 95%CI 1.81-4.49), death due to TB (OR 2.76, 95%CI 1.27-6.03) and death from other causes (OR 5.59, 95%CI 2.63-11.8). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the challenges of using national registers for research into childhood TB.

[The mediterranean diet model in inflammatory rheumatic diseases]. / Il modello nutrizionale mediterraneo nelle malattie reumatiche infiammatorie.

The Mediterranean diet is based on a pattern of eating closely tied to the Mediterranean region, which includes Greece and southern Italy. Essentially, the traditional diet emphasizes foods from plant sources, limited meat consumption, small amounts of wine and olive oil as the main fat source. The beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet has been proven not only to cardiovascular diseases but also for diabetes, obesity, arthritis and cancer. Its anti-inflammatory and protective properties are linked to the large presence of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, but especially to the constituents of extra virgin olive oil: oleic acid, phenolic compounds olecanthal, a new recently discovered molecule, with natural anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown that the Mediterranean diet can reduce disease activity, pain and stiffness in patients with inflammatory arthritis and may thus constitute a valuable support for patients suffering from these diseases.

[Fish oil supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis]. / La supplementazione dietetica con olio di pesce nell'artrite reumatoide.

The beneficial properties of fish oil are well known and are related to its fatty acid composition rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the last years a variety of epidemiological and clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of fish oil supplementation in the rheumatic diseases, in particular in rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil are linked to the production of alternative eicosanoids, to the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, to the inhibition of the activation of T lymphocytes and of catabolic enzymes. Fish oil supplementation could represent a valuable support to the traditional pharmacological treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

[Role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in diet of patients with rheumatic diseases]. / Ruolo degli acidi grassi omega-3 nella dieta dei pazienti affetti da patologie reumatiche infiammatorie.

The beneficial effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been widely described in the literature in particular those on cardiovascular system. In the last decade there has been an increased interest in the role of these nutrients in the reduction of articular inflammation as well as in the improvement of clinical symptoms in subjects affected by rheumatic diseases, in particular rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Nutritional supplementation with omega-3 may represent an additional therapy to the traditional pharmacological treatment due to the anti-inflammatory properties which characterize this class of lipids: production of alternative eicosanoids, reduction of inflammatory cytokines, reduction of T-lymphocytes activation, reduction of catabolic enzymes activity. The encouraging results of dietetic therapy based on omega-3 in RA are leading researchers to test their effectiveness on patients with other rheumatic conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis. Nutritional therapy based on food rich in omega-3 or on supplementation with fish oil capsules, proved to be a valid support to he treatment of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Assessment of copper and lipid profile in obese children and adolescents.

The aim of this study was to assess erythrocyte and plasma copper concentrations and correlate them with the lipid profile of overweight and obese children and adolescents. The study was performed with 15 overweight and 30 obese children and adolescents, and the results were compared to the control group (21), aged 6-16 yr. Anthropometric assessment was carried out using body mass index (BMI). Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride serum levels were investigated. Erythrocyte and plasma copper levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Greater alterations in the lipid profile were observed in HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, with distinctions according to gender. The plasma copper concentrations in the overweight and obese male groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p = 0.0006). Negative correlations between plasma copper and total cholesterol (r = -0.54) and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.59) were observed in the obese male group. There was no statistical difference in copper erythrocyte concentrations. The obesity associated to disorders in lipid metabolism predisposes to changes in copper plasma concentrations, but there was no alteration in intracellular reserves, which suggests an important homeostatic control to compensate for plasma oscillations and metabolic alterations of the disease.

The usefulness of serum adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) activity in adults for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Rapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains an obstacle for therapy of tuberculosis (TB). Adenosine deaminase isoform 2 (ADA2) is produced by activated macrophages and has been used for diagnosis of TB from extra-pulmonary sites. However, few studies adequately address whether serum ADA2 activity is useful for diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). We prospectively measured serum ADA2 activity in 110 patients with pulmonary disease (65 cases with active PTB and 45 cases with other respiratory diseases) and 78 healthy volunteers (eight with tuberculin skin test positive). The serum ADA2 for the diagnosis of PTB had the sensitivity of 36.9%, the specificity of 84.5%, the positive predictive value of 10.9% and the negative predictive value of 96.2%. We concluded that serum ADA2 activity is neither useful to diagnosis of active PTB nor to differentiate from other respiratory diseases.

[Nursing care: a phenomenological view of the leukemic patient]. / O cuidado de enfermagem: uma visão fenomenológica do ser leucêmico.

The present investigation approaches the nursing care process from the patient with leukemia perspective. The author departs from the feeling of uneasiness emerged in her quotidian either as a nurse practitioner and nursing professor and seeks to apprehend the sense of care within the everyday existence of the leukemic patient as a world-inserted human being. Also, the author presents reflexions on the path to be followed and finds an appropriate method to disclose the subjects veiled discourse based either in the phenomenological qualitative methodology and Heideggerian Hermeneutics; thus, the mode by which nursing care is perceived by the leukemic patient may be seen as a non-authentic from of being-with, have the nursing care delivered in a distinctive way, care given with patience and understanding, and receive that same type of care as an authentic form of being-with. By uncovering the sense emerged through those speeches, the investigator is likely to re-learn the care required to be provided in accordance with the studied subjects speech.

The valvular apparatus in venous insufficiency: a problem of quantity?

Abnormal venous valvular function may produce venous reflux and venous insufficiency. While valvular agenesis is a known, but rare cause of venous insufficiency. While valvular agenesis is a known, but rare cause of venous insufficiency, little work has been done on the relative number of greater saphenous vein (GSV) valves in patients with venous insufficiency. This study investigates whether the GSV in patients with symptomatic venous insufficiency has fewer valves than the GSV of patients without venous insufficiency. The number of GSV valves in patients (n = 51) with symptomatic venous insufficiency undergoing saphenectomy (VI) were compared with the number of GSV valves in patients (n = 26) without venous insufficiency undergoing in situ GSV bypass under angioscopic surveillance who served as a control group. The two groups differed, as expected, in age and sex distribution. The VI group had a mean of 25.7 +/- 11.0 centimeters of GSV between valves, while the control group had 19.0 +/- 9.7 centimeters of GSV between valves (F = 6.99; p = 0.01). The mean number of valves in the saphenous veins of the two groups also differed significantly: VI = 2.3 +/- 0.83 versus control (CTRL) = 4.8 +/- 2.01 (F = 61.86; p < 0.0001). That properly functioning valve leaflets help maintain physiologic antegrade venous flow is indisputable. This study, however, suggests that the relative lack of valves may be related to the development of venous insufficiency. This report documents that patients with symptomatic reflux in the GSV have significantly fewer valves than patients with apparently normal functioning saphenous veins.

Parotid metastasis from renal clear cell adenocarcinoma. An unusual site for metastasis.

Metastasis to the parotid region is rare, and originates primarily from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma of the skin. Renal clear cell adenocarcinoma has considerable metastatic potential and the parotid gland is one possible destination. Histopathologic study is important to differentiate this entity from primary clear cell parotid neoplasm.

The effects of anesthesia with thiopental on T lymphocyte responses to antigen and mitogens in vivo and in vitro.

In this study we show that antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation and interleukin (IL)-2 production by peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients under thiopental anesthesia are significantly depressed. In contrast, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 secretion are not depressed. We have also shown that tetanus toxoid (TT) specific CD4+ T cell clones, with a known cytokine production profile, were sensitive to the inhibitory effects of thiopental and exhibited decreased proliferation to TT as well as decreased secretion of IL-2. We observed no difference regarding IL-4 production by these clones. The data suggest that the immunosuppressive effect of thiopental is confined to antigen-specific responses. In addition, we have shown that whereas IL-2 and interferon-gamma production is dramatically impaired by the drug, IL-4 production is not significantly altered. This last finding has important implications regarding the type of immune response that is most affected by this anesthetic agent. In spite of the transient decrease in antigen-driven IL-2 synthesis, no clinical evidence of infection was noted in any healthy patient.

Effect of dietary fatty acids on jejunal and ileal oleic acid uptake by rat brush border membrane vesicles.

To test the effect of dietary fatty acids on fatty acid uptake, the influx kinetics of a representative long-chain fatty acid, 3H-oleic acid, in both the jejunum and ileum of rats has been studied using brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV). Animals were fed with semipurified diets containing 5 g fat/100 g diet, as corn oil (control group), safflower oil (unsaturated group) and coconut oil hydrogenated (saturated group). With increasing unbound oleate concentration in the medium, the three dietary groups showed saturable kinetics in both jejunal and ileal BBMV (controls: Vmax = 0.15 +/- 0.01 nmol x mg protein-1 x 5 min-1 and Km = 136 +/- 29.1 nmol for jejunum, and Vmax = 0.23 +/- 0.03 nmol x mg protein-1 x 5 min-1 and Km = 196 +/- 50.3 nmol for ileum; unsaturated: Vmax = 0.28 +/- 0.05 nmol x mg protein-1 x 5 min-1 and Km = 242.7 +/- 91.8 nmol for jejunum, and Vmax = 1.29 +/- 0.06 nmol x mg protein-1 x 5 min-1 and Km = 509.8 +/- 97.5 nmol for ileum; saturated: Vmax = 0.03 +/- 0.01 nmol x mg protein-1 x 5 min-1 and Km = 124.5 +/- 72.6 nmol for jejunum, and Vmax = 0.04 +/- 0.01 nmol x mg protein -1.5 min-1 and Km = 205.6 +/- 85.3 nmol for ileum). These results support the theory that feeding an isocaloric diet containing only unsaturated fatty acids enhanced oleic acid uptake, and feeding an isocaloric diet containing only saturated fatty acids decreased oleic acid uptake. The results obtained in the present work also show the adaptative ability of jejunum and ileum to the type of dietary fat.