Bone mineral density, vascular calcifications, and arterial stiffness in peritoneal dialysis patients.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of bone mineral density (BMD), evaluated by DXA, with vascular calcifications, arterial stiffness, and vascular disease in patients on peritoneal dialysis. Vascular calcifications were evaluated by vascular calcification score on plain x ray, and arterial stiffness was measured by pulse wave velocity using the Complior device (Artech Medical, Pantin, France). Adjusting for multiple factors, lower BMD at the femoral neck, but not at the lumbar spine, was associated with higher pulse wave velocity (p = 0.

The opposing effects of the flavonoids isoquercitrin and sissotrin, isolated from Pterospartum tridentatum, on oral glucose tolerance in rats.

The effect of an aqueous extract of Pterospartum tridentatum on the blood glucose levels of normal Wistar rats was investigated in a situation of oral glucose challenge. The extract at 300 mg/kg showed an antihyperglycaemic effect in the first 30 min after glucose challenge but then the blood glucose levels rose above those of the control group, indicating the presence of compounds with different effects on glucose tolerance. Nine compounds of isoflavone and flavonol skeletons were identified in the extract by HPLC-ESI-MS(n), four of them being identified for the first time in this species.

Chaos in a long-term experiment with a plankton community.

Mathematical models predict that species interactions such as competition and predation can generate chaos. However, experimental demonstrations of chaos in ecology are scarce, and have been limited to simple laboratory systems with a short duration and artificial species combinations. Here, we present the first experimental demonstration of chaos in a long-term experiment with a complex food web.

Oxidation process of adrenaline in freshly isolated rat cardiomyocytes: formation of adrenochrome, quinoproteins, and GSH adduct.

High concentrations of circulating biogenic catecholamines often exist during the course of several cardiovascular disorders. Additionally, coronary dysfunctions are prominent and frequently related to the ischemic and reperfusion phenomenon (I/R) in the heart, which leads to the release of large amounts of catecholamines, namely adrenaline, and to a sustained generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thus, this work aimed to study the toxicity of adrenaline either alone or in the presence of a system capable of generating ROS [xanthine with xanthine oxidase (X/XO)], in freshly isolated, calcium tolerant cardiomyocytes from adult rats.

Neurotoxicity mechanisms of thioether ecstasy metabolites.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "ecstasy"), is a widely abused, psychoactive recreational drug that is known to induce neurotoxic effects. Human and rat hepatic metabolism of MDMA involves N-demethylation to 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), which is also a drug of abuse. MDMA and MDA are O-demethylenated to N-methyl-alpha-methyldopamine (N-Me-alpha-MeDA) and alpha-methyldopamine (alpha-MeDA), respectively, which are both catechols that can undergo oxidation to the corresponding ortho-quinones.

Gingival margin alterations and the pre-orthodontic treatment amount of keratinized gingiva.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to associate the amount of keratinized gingiva present in adolescents prior to orthodontic treatment to the development of gingival recessions after the end of treatment. The sample consisted of the intra-oral photographs and orthodontic study models from 209 Caucasian patients with a mean age of 11.20 +/- 1.

Fungal peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients: Is previous antibiotic therapy an essential condition?

The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical and microbiological features of fungal peritonitis, in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients, focusing on non-traditional risk factors for this feared complication. From 2001 to 2004, five episodes of fungal peritonitis were diagnosed in five different patients, accounting for 4.5% of all peritonitis cases seen during this period.

Influence of CYP2D6 polymorphism on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy') cytotoxicity.

Objectives: Remarkable interindividual differences in 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine ('Ecstasy')-mediated toxicity have been reported in humans. Therefore, we tested whether CYP2D6 or its variant alleles as well as CYP3A4 influence the susceptibility to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine.

Methods: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine cytotoxicity was determined in V79 cells expressing human wild-type CYP2D6 (CYP2D6*1), the low-activity alleles CYP2D6*2, *9, *10, and *17, as well as human CYP3A4.

Neurotoxicity of Ecstasy metabolites in rat cortical neurons, and influence of hyperthermia.

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or "Ecstasy") is a widely abused, psychoactive recreational drug. There is growing evidence that the MDMA neurotoxic profile may be highly dependent on both its hepatic metabolism and body temperature. Metabolism of MDMA involves N-demethylation to 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), which is also a drug of abuse.

Differentiation of isomeric C8-substituted alkylaniline adducts of guanine by electrospray ionization and tandem quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry.

Product ion spectra from thirteen C8-substituted alkylaniline adducts of guanine and deoxyguanosine were generated using electrospray ionization and quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry and studied to investigate the possibility of differentiating isomeric adduct structures based upon the relative abundances of fragment ions derived from the alkylaniline-modified guanine bases (BH2(+) ions). The structural discrimination of the BH2(+) ions formed by attachment of isomeric alkylanilines to the C8 position of guanine is a challenging problem because the ions tend to yield product ion spectra that are qualitatively identical upon collisional activation. In this study, a statistical method, referred to as a similarity index, was used to compare the product ion spectra of isomeric BH2(+) ions and differentiate their structures.

Acute renal toxic effect of amiodarone in rats.

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug now more frequently used after a number of years in which the use had been on the decline due to a number of studies which reported side effects such as chronic toxicity, primarily in the lungs, liver and thyroid glands. Additionally, in some patients an increase in serum creatinine was noted, however the effect of amiodarone on renal function had never been closely examined. Thus, the aim of our study was to analyse the effects of amiodarone on renal function in rats.

Sensitive and efficient detection of RB1 gene mutations enhances care for families with retinoblastoma.

Timely molecular diagnosis of RB1 mutations enables earlier treatment, lower risk, and better health outcomes for patients with retinoblastoma; empowers families to make informed family-planning decisions; and costs less than conventional surveillance. However, complexity has hindered clinical implementation of molecular diagnosis. The majority of RB1 mutations are unique and distributed throughout the RB1 gene, with no real hot spots.

High Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is very common among hemodialysis (HD) patients. Transmission of infection in this setting has been related to the number of blood transfusions, the duration of hemodialysis and to nosocomial transmission of virus in the dialysis unit. We conducted a study of 74 HD patients to determine the frequency of HCV at a single point in time (cross-sectional analysis), and to evaluate the association between HCV infection and patients' demographic, clinical and biochemical features.

New syntheses of DNA adducts from methylated anilines present in tobacco smoke.

A new synthetic pathway for the formation of deoxyguanosine-monoarylamine adducts is described, involving the generation and use of arylnitrenes as electrophilic synthons. Photolysis of aryl azides, the most common method for generating arylnitrenes, was tested in the presence of 2'-deoxyguanosine. N-(2'-Deoxyguanosin-8-yl)monoarylamine (dG-C8-Ar) adducts were obtained, but the yields were typically low.

Product ion studies of some novel arylamine adducts of deoxyguanosine by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and post-source decay.

The product ions of the BH(2)(+) ions formed by the glycosidic cleavage of N-(deoxyguanosin-O(6)-yl)-2-methylaniline, 4-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-methylaniline, and N-(deoxyguanosin-1-yl)-2-methylaniline have been studied using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and post-source decay (PSD) to identify fragment ions and pathways that may be used to differentiate their structures. All three isomers may be distinguished based on their PSD product ion spectra using only femtomole quantities of sample. N-(Deoxyguanosin-O(6)-yl)-2-methylaniline produces product ions at m/z 107 and 134 that are diagnostic for 2-methylaniline attachment to the O(6) position of guanine.

Is aortic occlusion advisable in the management of massive hemorrhage? Experimental study in dogs.

Occlusion of the thoracic aorta is meant to improve cerebral and cardiac perfusion in the moribund, exsanguinating trauma patient. Yet clinical and experimental experience shows no evident benefit from this critical maneuver, and hind limb paralysis (HLP) is a feared complication. Our study is intended to verify whether aortic occlusion can decrease further blood loss and therefore be useful during treatment of hemorrhagic shock.

[Traumatic rupture of duodenal diverticulum. Report of a case and literature review].

Duodenal diverticulum is a common anatomic abnormality. Its inflammatory perforation is a rare complication, with less than 100 cases reported in the available literature. Traumatic perforation is exceedingly rare (only 3 cases reported).

Low energy tandem mass spectrometry of deoxynucleoside adducts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dihydrodiol-epoxides.

The use of fast-atom bombardment ionization-tandem mass spectrometry approaches, with collision energies on the order of 30-50 eV, was developed for the analysis of low picomole quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dihydrodiol-epoxide deoxynucleoside adducts. This strategy combines three experimental techniques: (1) product ion scans, (2) constant neutral loss scans, and (3) precursor ion scans. Product ion scans of the protonated molecule or the BH 2 (+) ion that results from loss of the deoxyribose were dominated by fragments associated with cleavage of the sigma bond between the dihydrodiol-epoxide moiety and the nucleobase.

[Traumatic injuries of the pancreas: report of 65 cases].

With the aim of aiding the accurate diagnosis and treatment of patients with pancreatic injuries, we reviewed the medical records of sixty-five patients, treated for traumatic pancreatic lesions at the Department of Surgery of the University of São Paulo in the 5-year period from 1989 through 1993. Records, including operative and pathology reports, were reviewed and the location of the pancreatic injury, associated intra-abdominal injuries, type of injury, trauma scores, treatment, complications and mortality rates recorded. There were 58 male and seven female patients with a mean age of 28.

[A fatal case of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage: report of case and review of the literature].

Gastrointestinal hemorrhage continues to be a major medical problem. Even with improvements in both diagnostic and therapeutic, a significant number of patients still require surgical intervention for control of hemorrhage. When the source of persistent lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage is unknown, subtotal colectomy is a conceptually rational management choice.

An unusual case of four iliac veins injured by gunshot: case report and review of the literature.

Multiple injuries of iliac veins are uncommon and frequently fatal. An unusual case in which there were injuries of the four iliac veins by gunshot is described. Prompt control of hemorrhage is required.

[Risk factors in emergency surgery relaparotomy].

Reintervention in abdominal surgery involves the difficulty of precise indication and the limitations of surgical technics during the operation. It may bring to evidence professional errors. It presents a very high morbimortality index.

[Postsplenectomy gastric fistula: report of a case].

Gastric perforation following splenectomy is a rare complication occurring in less than 1% of patients and it is mainly associated with iatrogenic injury to the greater curvature of the stomach. The authors report a case of gastric fistula in a patient who underwent splenectomy for blunt abdominal trauma and discuss the main etiopathogenic and diagnostic aspects.