Fatty acid esters of 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol in edible oils.

A series of 25 virgin and refined edible oils, obtained from retailers, was analyzed for levels of free 3-chloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and 3-MCPD released from esters with higher fatty acids (bound 3-MCPD). Oils containing free 3-MCPD ranging from <3 microg kg-1 (LOD) to 24 microg kg-1. Surprisingly, bound 3-MCPD levels were much higher and varied between <100 (LOD) and 2462 microg kg-1. On average, virgin oils had relatively low levels of bound 3-MCPD, ranging from <100 (LOD) to <300 microg kg-1 (LOQ). Higher levels of bound 3-MCPD were found in oils from roasted oilseeds (337 microg kg-1) and in the majority of refined oils (<300-2462 microg kg-1), including refined olive oils. In general, it appears that the formation of bound 3-MCPD in oils is linked to preliminary heat treatment of oilseeds and to the process of oil refining. Analysis of unrefined, de-gummed, bleached, and deodorized rapeseed oil showed that the level of bound MCPD decreased during the refining process. However, additional heating of seed oils for 30 min at temperatures ranging from 100 to 280 degrees C, and heating at 230 degrees C (260 degrees C) for up to 8 h, led to an increase in bound 3-MCPD levels. On the other hand, heating of olive oil resulted in a decrease in bound 3-MCPD levels. For comparison, fat isolated from salami was analyzed for intact fatty acid esters of 3-MCPD. This fat contained bound 3-MCPD at a level of 1670 microg kg-1 and the fatty acid esters of 3-MCPD mainly consisted of 3-MCPD diesters; monoesters of 3-MCPD were present in smaller amounts. The major types of 3-MCPD diesters (about 85%) were mixed diesters of palmitic acid with C18 fatty acids (stearic, oleic, linoleic acids). These diesters were followed by 3-MCPD distearate (11%) and 3-MCPD dipalmitate (4%). Generally, very little 3-MCPD existed as the free compound (31 microg kg-1).     

Impact of medical approach on the presentation form of AIDS defined by clinical episodes

BACKGROUND: In recent years there has been a change in the opportunistic diseases incidence in HIV-infected patients. The change could be related to the use antiviral therapy and chemoprophylaxis strategies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if medical intervention is able to modificate the clinical presentation of AIDS and the CD4+ lymphocyte counts at time of AIDS diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The first AIDS-defining condition and the CD4+ count at time of AIDS diagnosis were analyzed in 95 HIV-infected patients who developed an AIDS-defining disease since April 1989 until March 1996, retrospectively reviewed. Patients who had been previously followed at an AIDS Unit were compared with those who had not. RESULTS: The frequency of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as the first AIDS-defining condition was lower in medically followed patients. Among this group, AIDS cases who received chemoprophylaxis with isoniazide showed a decrease in the rate of tuberculosis. No differences were found in CD4+ lymphocyte counts between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of medical intervention significant changes have occurred in the spectrum of initial AIDS-defining conditions in relation to medical intervention; a decrease in the frequency of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and tuberculosis have been found; however, the CD4+ lymphocyte counts at time of AIDS diagnosis are not modificated by medical intervention.     

Comparative evaluation of surfactant and hydrophobizing agent concentration in relation to the optimal particle size of metered-dose inhalers

The aim of the present study was to formulate stabilized suspension-type metered-dose inhalation aerosols, and to examine the connection between the stabilizing additives and the optimal particle size. For the stabilization of the suspended particles, hydrophilic- and hydrophobic-type additives were applied. Oleil oleate was selected as a hydrophilic anionic surfactant, and the hydrophobizing agent was dimethyl siloxane polymer. The effect of the amount of the applied hydrophilic and hydrophobic additives on the optimal particle size was modeled by a second-order polynomial equation fitted to the data gathered by a face-centered central composite statistical design. We found that if the proper type and amount of additives are selected, it is possible to acquire the therapeutically best composition.     

Treatment of lupus crisis with IgIV

BACKGROUND: Intravenous Immunoglobulin (i.v.Ig) has been advocated as efficacious for Systemic Lupus Erytematosus (SLE) and Lupic Nephritis (LN) using high dosages, propitious a prolonged remission of SLE. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We show the case of a male patient 16 years old, with SLE diagnosis until 1993, and LN phase IV. He attend to hospital with a Lupic Crisis, positives ANAs, DNAds, ScL 427, C3 45, C4 13, IgG 179, urinary sediment: leukocytes 30-40 xc, erythrocytes 8-10 xc. Renal failure: BUN 243, seric Cr: 10.16. I.v. Ig administrated 400 mgs k do. And nephrologic assistance, NK. RESULTS: There was improvement after infusion, clinical and serological, persisting with renal failure. The mechanism by which i.v. Ig might have effected improvement in this patient was reviewed. CONCLUSION: The use in our patient with SLE and LN was satisfactory. Is difficult affirm categorical the outcome or failure of i.v. Ig in patients with SLE, even report founded are only few cases report.     

Infiltration Capacity Assessment of Urban Pavements Using the LCS Permeameter and the CP Infiltrometer

This paper presents the Cantabrian portable infiltrometer (CP infiltrometer), a specially designed device based on rainfall simulation for the assessment of the infiltration capacity of all types of urban pavements. Several pervious and impervious surfaces were tested with the LCS permeameter, an existing infiltration test based on the use of a column of water, and the CP Infiltrometer, simulating rain intensities with return periods of 10, 50, and 500 years and 5?min duration. The discussion of the results indicates that the CP infiltrometer could be used successfully to identify different levels of infiltration capacity and to assess the correct performance of pervious surfaces on which design, construction, and maintenance decisions are based.     

Association of vitamin D receptor polymorphisms with osteoporosis in mexican postmenopausal women

It has been reported that Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms are associated with osteoporosis, particularly those demonstrated by the BsmI and FokI restriction enzymes. Herein we report the results of a case-control study performed in postmenopausal Mexican women. We studied 65 osteoporotic women (< or = -2.5 SD bone mineral density [BMD] of young normal females) and 57 controls (over 90% > or = -1.5 SD BMD of young normal females. Restriction enzymes BsmI and FokI were used to identify polymorphisms. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and analysis was performed controlling for age as a covariate. The BsmI genotypes revealed a higher frequency of the bb genotype in cases than in controls, contradicting much of the literature that suggests this genotype protects females against osteoporosis. Regarding the FokI genotypes, we were unable to confirm that the FF genotype has a protective effect against osteoporosis. The inconsistencies found in the literature and the results obtained in the present work suggest to us that other genetic and nongenetic factors are involved in the occurrence of osteoporosis, confounding the results of the possible association of osteoporosis and VDR polymorphisms.     

Time course of vinblastine-induced autophagocytosis and changes in the endoplasmic reticulum in murine pancreatic acinar cells: a morphometric and biochemical study

The time course of the vinblastine(-sulfate; 10 mg/kg body weight, single injection)-induced enlargement and subsequent regression of the autolysosomal compartment was studied by electron microscopic morphometrical and cell biochemical methods in order to gain information concerning some key problems of this major route of intralysosomal degradation of the cell's endogenous macromolecules and structures. Detailed analysis of the dynamics of the total autophagic vacuole (AV) compartment and its different subcompartments (early, advanced, late, and fused AVs), as well as of changes of rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (RER) showed: 1. Pancreatic acinar cells react to vinblastine biphasically, i.e. two expansion phases of the AV compartment, the first in the 0 to 90 min and the second in the 2 to 8 h post-injectional periods, were detected. 2. Fusions of AVs are not inhibited by vinblastine, at least during the second expansion phase when cytoplasmic volume fraction (CVF) of fused AVs steadily increased until the 12th h. Fusion of early, advanced and late AVs or composition of fused complex vacuoles (AVc) are somehow regulated, as the proportion of the three AV stages from the CVF of AVc, was maintained constant throughout the second expansion phase. 3. Stimulation of autophagosome formation and resulting substrate overload seems to be the primary mode of action by which vinblastine causes the enormous expansion of the autolysosomal compartment. 4. Degranulation of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (RER) membranes occurs in a biphasic fashion, similarly to the volume and surface changes of the AV compartment, thus supporting our previous hypothesis, that labilization or change of RER may have a role in the formation of autophagosomes. 5. Vinblastine-induced autophagocytosis is a selective process, as mitochondria, Golgi elements and zymogen granules are very much underrepresented, whereas RER is more than twice overrepresented in the volume of early AVs, when compared to their volume fraction in the whole cytoplasm. 6. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed the presence of ubiquitinylated proteins in advanced and late, but not in early AVs.     

Epidemiologic and demographic aspects of peritoneal dialysis in Mexico

The rationale for anti-tumour necrosis factor-alpha (anti-TNFalpha) therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is based on experiments on cultures of human rheumatoidjoint tissue, supported by experiments in animal models, all of which demonstrated that anti-TNFalpha antibody had profound effects on the disease activity. Clinical trials have substantiated this concept, and we have used the serum samples from the clinical trials, as well as biopsies to study the changes occurring during anti-TNFalpha therapy as clues to the pathogenesis of RA. The major effects of anti-TNFalpha therapy are in downregulating cytokine activity, and in reducing leucocyte trafficking to the joints.