Different degrees of malnutrition and immunological alterations according to the aetiology of cirrhosis: a prospective and sequential study

Objectives

In this work we investigated how immunological dysfunction and malnutrition interact in alcoholic and viral aetiologies of cirrhosis.

Methods

To investigate the matter, 77 cirrhotic patients divided in three aetiologies [Alcohol, HCV and Alcohol + HCV) and 32 controls were prospectivelly and sequentially studied. Parameters of humoral immunity (Components 3 and 4 of seric complement and immunoglobulins A M, G and E) and of cellular immunity (total leukocytes and lymphocytes in peripheral blood, T lymphocytes subpopulations, CD4+ and CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio and intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity), as well as nutrititional parameters: anthropometric measures, serum albumin and transferrin were evaluated.

Results

Multiple statistical comparisons showed that IgM was higher in HCV group; IgG was significantly elevated in both HCV and Alcohol + HCV, whereas for the Alcohol group, IgE was found at higher titles. The analysis of T- lymphocytes subpopulations showed no aetiologic differences, but intradermic tests of delayed hypersensitivity did show greater frequency of anergy in the Alcohol group. For anthropometric parameters, the Alcohol +HCV group displayed the lowest triceps skinfold whereas creatinine – height index evaluation was more preserved in the HCV group. Body mass index, arm muscle area and arm fat area showed that differently from alcohol group, the HCV group was similar to control.

Conclusion

Significant differences were found among the main aetiologies of cirrhosis concerning immunological alterations and nutritional status: better nutrition and worse immunology for HCV and vice-versa for alcohol.

     

Novel lanthanide salicylaldimine complexes with unusual coordination mode

The one-step metal promoted reaction between salicylaldehyde and 4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine in the presence of lanthanum(III) or gadolinium(III) nitrate yields new salicylaldimine complexes containing N,N′-bis(salicylidene)-4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine as a result of the [2 + 1] Schiff base condensation. The crystal structure of the gadolinium complex reveals a dinuclear species with four unionized ligands coordinating in the monodentate and bridging bidentate fashion, using exclusively the oxygens as donor atoms with the nitrogen atoms not being involved in coordination. The coordination number of nine is achieved by involving three bidentate nitrate counterions in the coordination sphere.     

Initial density dependence of experimental viscosities and of calculated diffusion coefficients of the binary vapor mixtures methanol-benzene and methanol-cyclohexane

The paper reports experimental results for the viscosity of the vapor mixtures methanol-benzene (five mole fractions with densities up to 1.5kg·m^–3 and 0.022 mol·L ^–1) and methanol-cyclohexane (four mole fractions with densities up to 1.9kg·m^–3 and 0.026 mol·L ^–1). In analogy to the pure components, the measurements on the mixtures were carried out with an oscillating-disk viscometer with small gaps, completely made of quartz, beginning as near as possible to room temperature and continuing to a maximum temperature of 630 K. A first evaluation by means of the Chapman-Enskog theory of dilute gases has shown differences in the resulting values of the interaction viscosity _ij ⁽⁰⁾ in the limit of zero density exceeding the experimental errors. Consistent results were obtained by taking into account the initial density dependence of the viscosity within the framework of the modified Enskog theory for gaseous mixtures. The values of _ij ⁽⁰⁾ were also used to estimate binary diffusion coefficients of the mixtures.     

Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia Associated with a CaV1.2 Variant with Mixed Gain- and Loss-of-Function Effects

The voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel isoform Ca_V1.2 is critically involved in many physiological processes, e.g., in cardiac action potential formation, electromechanical coupling and regulation of insulin secretion by beta cells. Gain-of-function mutations in the calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha 1 C (CACNA1C) gene, encoding the Ca_V1.2 α₁-subunit, cause Timothy syndrome (TS), a multisystemic disorder that includes autism spectrum disorders and long QT (LQT) syndrome. Strikingly, TS patients frequently suffer from hypoglycemia of yet unproven origin. Using next-generation sequencing, we identified a novel heterozygous CACNA1C mutation in a patient with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) and associated hypoglycemic episodes. We characterized the electrophysiological phenotype of the mutated channel using voltage-clamp recordings and in silico action potential modeling experiments. The identified Ca_V1.2^L566P mutation causes a mixed electrophysiological phenotype of gain- and loss-of-function effects. In silico action potential modeling supports that this mixed electrophysiological phenotype leads to a tissue-specific impact on beta cells compared to cardiomyocytes. Thus, CACNA1C variants may be associated with non-syndromic hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia without long-QT syndrome, explained by very specific electrophysiological properties of the mutated channel. We discuss different biochemical characteristics and clinical impacts of hypoglycemia in the context of CACNA1C variants and show that these may be associated with significant morbidity for Timothy Syndrome patients. Our findings underline that the potential of hypoglycemia warrants careful attention in patients with CACNA1C variants, and such variants should be included in the differential diagnosis of non-syndromic congenital hyperinsulinism.     

Use of Repetitive Sequences for Molecular and Cytogenetic Characterization of Avena Species from Portugal

Genomic diversity of Portuguese accessions of Avena species—diploid A. strigosa and hexaploids A. sativa and A. sterilis—was evaluated through molecular and cytological analysis of 45S rDNA, and other repetitive sequences previously studied in cereal species—rye subtelomeric sequence (pSc200) and cereal centromeric sequence (CCS1). Additionally, retrotransposons and microsatellites targeting methodologies—IRAP (inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism) and REMAP (retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism)—were performed. A very high homology was detected for ribosomal internal transcribed sequences (ITS1 and ITS2) between the species analyzed, although nucleolar organizing regions (NOR) fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed distinct number of Nor loci between diploid and hexaploid species. Moreover, morphological diversity, evidenced by FISH signals with different sizes, was observed between distinct accessions within each species. pSc200 sequences were for the first time isolated from Avena species but proven to be highly similar in all genotypes analyzed. The use of primers designed for CCS1 unraveled a sequence homologous to the Ty3/gypsy retrotransposon Cereba, that was mapped to centromeric regions of diploid and hexaploid species, being however restricted to the more related A and D haplomes. Retrotransposon-based methodologies disclosed species- and accessions-specific bands essential for the accurate discrimination of all genotypes studied. Centromeric, IRAP and REMAP profiles therefore allowed accurate assessment of inter and intraspecific variability, demonstrating the potential of these molecular markers on future oat breeding programs.     

Use of the radiofrequency-intermodulation distortion technique to investigate intrinsic nonlinearity at the electrode-electrolyte interface

We report on investigations of nonlinear radiofrequency responses of electrolytes with Na(+) and Cl(-) ions placed within gold electrodes of a capacitor. The sample was part of a frequency-adjustable inductance-capacitance-resistance (LCR) parallel resonant circuit, and measurements were carried out using the two frequencies intermodulation distortion technique. We employed double layer model to analyze the observed nonlinearities and their dependence on ionic concentration. Electrode-electrolyte interface polarization was found to be a predominant cause of this intrinsic nonlinearity and to be dependent on electrolytic ion concentration. We also measured and calculated coefficients of resistive and capacitive components of the observed nonlinearity.     

Gauging food and nutritional care quality in hospitals

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Food and nutritional care quality must be assessed and scored, so as to improve health institution efficacy. This study aimed to detect and compare actions related to food and nutritional care quality in public and private hospitals. METHODS: Investigation of the Hospital Food and Nutrition Service (HFNS) of 37 hospitals by means of structured interviews assessing two quality control corpora, namely nutritional care quality (NCQ) and hospital food service quality (FSQ). HFNS was also evaluated with respect to human resources per hospital bed and per produced meal. RESULTS: Comparison between public and private institutions revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the number of hospital beds per HFNS staff member (p = 0.02) and per dietitian (p < 0.01). The mean compliance with NCQ criteria in public and private institutions was 51.8% and 41.6%, respectively. The percentage of public and private health institutions in conformity with FSQ criteria was 42.4% and 49.1%, respectively. Most of the actions comprising each corpus, NCQ and FSQ, varied considerably between the two types of institution. NCQ was positively influenced by hospital type (general) and presence of a clinical dietitian. FSQ was affected by institution size: large and medium-sized hospitals were significantly better than small ones. CONCLUSIONS: Food and nutritional care in hospital is still incipient, and actions concerning both nutritional care and food service take place on an irregular basis. It is clear that the design of food and nutritional care in hospital indicators is mandatory, and that guidelines for the development of actions as well as qualification and assessment of nutritional care are urgent.     

Molecular Basis of Taste Sense: Involvement of GPCR Receptors

Taste perception is one of the senses crucial for many organisms. There are five basic tastes, i.e., sweet, bitter, salty, sour, and umami, and it is suggested that the taste of fat should be included in this list. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge about the involvement of G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in taste sensing and intracellular signaling. GPCR receptors are focal point of interest for pharmaceutical industry. However, their ability to interact with a variety of taste substances makes these receptors interesting target for food and nutrient companies.