Hormone-sensitive lipase deficiency affects the expression of SR-BI, LDLr, and ABCA1 receptors/transporters involved in cellular cholesterol uptake and efflux and disturbs fertility in mouse testis.

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) hydrolyse acylglycerols, cholesteryl and retinyl esters. HSL is a key lipase in mice testis, as HSL deficiency results in male sterility. The present work study the effects of the deficiency and lack of HSL on the localization and expression of SR-BI, LDLr, and ABCA1 receptors/transporters involved in uptake and efflux of cholesterol in mice testis, to determine the impact of HSL gene dosage on testis morphology, lipid homeostasis and fertility.

[Virtual consultations in Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery].

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyse the current system of virtual consultations between the levels of Primary and Specialised Care in the field of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery (TOS) in our healthcare area.

Material And Method: A retrospective observational study was carried out on 90 consecutive patients who had a non-face-to-face consultation between 3 January 2017 and 10 February 2017 and subsequently a face-to-face consultation. All the patients belonged to the same healthcare area attached to the Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital.

Lack of Improvement of Sperm Characteristics in Obese Males After Obesity Surgery Despite the Beneficial Changes Observed in Reproductive Hormones.

Background: Even though obesity surgery normalizes circulating testosterone concentrations in males with obesity-associated secondary hypogonadism, its impact on spermatogenesis remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate sperm characteristics in obese men after bariatric surgery as well as changes in reproductive hormones.

Methods: Twenty severely obese men (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m) were evaluated before and 2 years after bariatric surgery.

Morbid obesity-related changes in the expression of lipid receptors, transporters, and HSL in human sperm.

Objective: To study the location and expression of receptors (SR-BI/CLA-1, SR-BII, and LDLr) and transporter (ABCA1) involved in uptake and efflux of cholesterol in human spermatozoa and assess whether obesity alters its location/expression and whether this could be related to infertility.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: None PATIENT(S): Ten controls and 20 obese patients.

Ellagic acid protects from myelin-associated sphingolipid loss in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most common model for multiple sclerosis, is characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration into the central nervous system and demyelination. Previous studies have demonstrated that administration of some polyphenols may reduce the neurological alterations of EAE. In this work, we show that ellagic acid, a polyphenolic compound, is beneficial in EAE, most likely through stimulation of ceramide biosynthesis within the brain.

Serum Retinol, Folic Acid, and Copper Are Associated With Sperm Abnormalities in Men With Obesity.

Background And Objectives: Micronutrients may influence the development and differentiation of sperm cells. The aim of this study was to assess the possible association of deficiencies in several vitamins and trace elements with sperm abnormalities in men with obesity.

Participants And Methods: Thirty male patients with moderate to severe obesity and ten lean controls who gave written informed consent were included.

Prevalence of male secondary hypogonadism in moderate to severe obesity and its relationship with insulin resistance and excess body weight.

To study the prevalence of male obesity-secondary hypogonadism (MOSH) in patients with moderate to severe obesity, we performed a prospective prevalence study including 100 male patients with moderate to severe obesity at a university tertiary hospital. Total testosterone (TT) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) concentrations among others were assayed in all patients. Serum-free testosterone (FT) concentration was calculated from TT and SHBG levels.

Liver growth factor induces testicular regeneration in EDS-treated rats and increases protein levels of class B scavenger receptors.

The aim of the present work was to determine the effects of liver growth factor (LGF) on the regeneration process of rat testes after chemical castration induced by ethane dimethanesulfonate (EDS) by analyzing some of the most relevant proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism, such as hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), scavenger receptor SR-BI, and other components of the SR family that could contribute to the recovery of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in the testis. Sixty male rats were randomized to nontreated (controls) and LGF-treated, EDS-treated, and EDS + LGF-treated groups. Testes were obtained on days 10 (T1), 21 (T2), and 35 (T3) after EDS treatment, embedded in paraffin, and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.

Effects of bariatric surgery on male obesity-associated secondary hypogonadism: comparison of laparoscopic gastric bypass with restrictive procedures.

Bariatric surgery results in the complete resolution of male obesity-associated secondary hypogonadism (MOSH) in many patients. However, the effects of different bariatric surgical procedures on male sexual hormone profiles and sexual dysfunction have not been compared to date. We compared the pre- and post-operative (at least 6 months after initial surgery) sex hormone profiles of 20 severely obese men submitted to laparoscopic gastric bypass (LGB) with 15 similar patients submitted to restrictive techniques (sleeve gastrectomy in 10 and adjustable gastric banding in 5).

Curcumin promotes exosomes/microvesicles secretion that attenuates lysosomal cholesterol traffic impairment.

Scope: Exosomes/microvesicles are originated from multivesicular bodies that allow the secretion of endolysosome components out of the cell. In the present work, we investigated the effects of curcumin, a polyphenol, on exosomes/microvesicles secretion in different cells lines, using U18666A as a model of intracellular cholesterol trafficking impairment.

Methods And Results: In both HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells and THP-1 differentiated macrophages, treatment with curcumin affected the size and the localization of endosome/lysosomes accumulated by U18666A, and reduced the cholesterol cell content.

Hormone-sensitive lipase deficiency disturbs the fatty acid composition of mouse testis.

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is a key enzyme in the mobilization of fatty acids from intracellular stores. In mice, HSL deficiency results in male sterility caused by a major defect in spermatogenesis. The testes contain high concentrations of PUFA and specific PUFA are essential for spermatogenesis.

HSL-knockout mouse testis exhibits class B scavenger receptor upregulation and disrupted lipid raft microdomains.

There is a tight relationship between fertility and changes in cholesterol metabolism during spermatogenesis. In the testis, class B scavenger receptors (SR-B) SR-BI, SR-BII, and LIMP II mediate the selective uptake of cholesterol esters from HDL, which are hydrolyzed to unesterified cholesterol by hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL). HSL is critical because HSL knockout (KO) male mice are sterile.

Circulating free testosterone in obese men after bariatric surgery increases in parallel with insulin sensitivity.

Background And Aim: Male hypogonadism has been linked to obesity and diabetes. We aimed to study the association of changes in insulin sensitivity and testosterone levels in severe obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery.

Subjects And Methods: Prospective intervention study with twenty consecutive patients who underwent bariatric surgery studied before and after significant weight loss.

Haloperidol disrupts lipid rafts and impairs insulin signaling in SH-SY5Y cells.

Haloperidol exerts its therapeutic effects basically by acting on dopamine receptors. We previously reported that haloperidol inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis in cultured cells. In the present work we investigated its effects on lipid-raft composition and functionality.

Clinical pathways as a healthcare tool: design, implementation and assessment of a clinical pathway for lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis.

Objective: To design, implement and assess a clinical pathway for lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis, and to compare the length of hospital stay in two different periods.

Design: Development of the care pathway by a multidisciplinary team, followed by a controlled intervention study to compare two non-concomitant cohorts of patients corresponding to the years 2002 (before the implementation of the critical pathway) and 2004 (year of the implementation).

Setting: Academic tertiary care hospital.

Prediction clinical profile to distinguish between systolic and diastolic heart failure in hospitalized patients.

Background: In recent decades, the growing incidence of patients with heart failure who have preserved systolic function, underlines the need to differentiate between heart failure due to diastolic dysfunction and that due to systolic dysfunction.

Objective: To develop a prediction profile of clinical parameters that enables clinicians to differentiate between patients with systolic and diastolic heart failure.

Methods: 164 patients admitted for congestive heart failure to the cardiology department of an academic tertiary care hospital, whose left ventricular systolic and diastolic function had been evaluated echocardiographically and who satisfied the Framingham criteria for heart failure, were prospectively recruited.

Diagnostic accuracy of clinical criteria for identifying systolic and diastolic heart failure: cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine the validity and clinical usefulness of clinical criteria in the diagnosis of systolic and diastolic heart failure.

Design: Cross-sectional diagnostic study.

Methods: 216 patients admitted consecutively to the cardiology section of an academic hospital with a suspected diagnosis of heart failure in a period of 12 months.

Hormone-sensitive lipase expression and IHC localization in the rat ovary, oviduct, and uterus.

Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is a key regulator of cholesterol esters metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine HSL localization in rat female reproductive organs during the ovarian cycle by IHC methods. HSL was located in the ovarian epithelium.

Multiple bone lesions resembling a metastatic origin. An unexpected diagnosis.

Lytic and blastic lesions have been associated to malignant tumours, such as solid cancer (breast cancer, renal cancer, prostate cancer, malignant melanoma or thyroid tumours). Although a mixed pattern with lytic and blastic lesions is due to metastatic tumour, this is not the only possible origin. The following case shows a systematic.

[Insulin resistance in HIV-infected patients receiving long-term therapy with efavirenz, lopinavir/ritonavir and atazanavir].

Background And Objective: To assess the presence of insulin resistance in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients receiving long-term antiretroviral therapy.

Patients And Method: Cross-sectional study in consecutive HIV-infected patients treated with regimens containing efavirenz, lopinavir/ritonavir or atazanavir. Insulin resistance was assessed by HOMA (Homeostasis Model Assessment).

Fatal infection due to larval cysts of cestodes (neurocysticercosis and hydatid disease) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients in Spain: report of two cases.

There is little information on infections caused by larval cestodes in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in developed countries. Two infections by larval cestodes were found in 714 HIV-infected patients studied from 1998 to 2004 at the Hospital General Universitario de Elche in Spain (Mediterranean Coast). The first patient was a Colombian immigrant diagnosed as having neurocysticercosis, and subsequently found to have HIV infection.

Clinical characterisation of pneumonia caused by atypical pathogens combining classic and novel predictors.

The aim of this study was to characterise community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by atypical pathogens by combining distinctive clinical and epidemiological features and novel biological markers. A population-based prospective study of consecutive patients with CAP included investigation of biomarkers of bacterial infection, e.g.