Resistina: una nueva hormona expresada en el tejido adiposo

La resistina es una proteína de 12,5 kDa rica en residuos de cisteína que se secreta principalmente en los adipocitos. El descubrimiento de la resistina pareció ser un principio prometedor para el tratamiento de la resistencia a la insulina inducida por la obesidad. Sin embargo, aunque en roedores su función parece estar relacionada con el empeoramiento de la sensibilidad a la insulina, en humanos todavía no se puede afirmar con claridad su papel. En los roedores, la resistina actúa de forma perjudicial en la ruta de señalización de la insulina en los principales tejidos diana, como son el tejido adiposo, el hígado y el músculo. Esta hormona también estimula la producción hepática de glucosa y sus niveles circulantes son elevados en animales obesos, mientras que estos niveles disminuyen de manera muy significativa después de la restricción alimenticia. Todos estos datos sugieren que además de la resistencia a la insulina, la resistina también ejerce una acción importante en la regulación de la homeostasis metabólica. Además, en humanos, dada su expresión en células mononucleares, es de suponer que esta proteína juega un papel importante en los procesos inflamatorios y/o inmunitarios. Aunque los trabajos que han estudiado sus acciones en relación a la resistencia a insulina inducida por la obesidad son bastante contradictorios, es de esperar que pueda ejercer múltiples funciones biológicas, teniendo en cuenta la variedad de tejidos en que es expresada

Effect of Chronic Inhibition of Converting Enzyme on Renal Handling of Salt and Water: A Study on a Pediatric Population

Background/Aims: The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi) is amply documented in several pathological conditions. However, there are few reports about the effect of chronic ACEi on salt and water balance. The present work evaluates the effect of chronic ACEi on salt and water balance in a population of children receiving enalapril chronically in order to reduce albuminuria elicited by a uremic hemolytic syndrome. Methods: Nine children aged from 9 to 19 years with normal glomerular filtration rate, normotension and with urinary concentration capacity preserved were treated with enalapril with doses ranging between 0.1 and 0.30 mg/kg/day. Diuresis, urinary absolute and fractional excretion of Na+, K+ and urea, creatinine clearance, osmolal clearance and tubular water reabsorption were measured under three experimental procedures: (1) with free access to water; (2) with a water load and (3) with water restriction. In the last group urinary antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was measured. These tests were performed in a paired way, just before starting ACEi treatment and after 6 months of enalapril treatment. Results: Enalapril treatment diminished the urinary concentration capacity without affecting Na+ and K+ urinary excretion. Creatinine clearance was not modified except in the condition of water load where a fall in it was found after ACEi. ADH increased after enalapril treatment in children under water restriction. Conclusion: In these children chronic ACEi decreases urinary concentration capacity.Fil: Dieguez, S. M.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Álvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Cnepa, C. A.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Álvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Amorena, Carlos Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de General San Martn; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Habitat use by threatened sheldgeese (Chloephaga spp.) in Austral Patagonia at two spatial scales

Upland Goose Chloephaga picta, Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala and Ruddy-headed Goose Chloephaga rubidiceps are endemic goose-like threatened birds of southern South America. This work aimed to study how sheldgeese are distributed both temporally and spatially and characterize their habitat use in part of their breeding range in Southern Argentina, a little-explored subpolar region. We conducted nine surveys between spring 2013 and summer 2016 across a maximum of 235 km in Santa Cruz and 698 km in Tierra del Fuego per survey. We recorded the presence of non-breeding sheldgoose groups and Upland Goose pairs. We collected data at site-scale (~ 0.8 km2) and extracted data from geographic information systems for landscape-scale (5 km2) analyses. We recorded 2396 non-breeding groups containing one, two or the three species, 788 Upland Goose pairs and 102 solitary individuals. The Upland Goose was present in almost all groups and was the most abundant sheldgoose, followed by the Ashy-headed Goose. The Ruddy-headed Goose was observed only in 15 locations. Poa grasslands, meadows and Festuca grasslands were the habitats in which we detected most individuals. Sheldgoose density was higher in Tierra del Fuego than in Santa Cruz, and increased from spring to autumn and decreased in winter. The largest sheldgoose groups were concentrated in meadows and waterbodies. Sheldgeese selected sites with greater habitat diversity, habitat richness and number of habitats patches. Our results provide information to understand which environmental conditions favour sheldgeese and to aid in the selection of important areas for the conservation of these species.Fil: Cossa, Natalia Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Fasola, Laura. Administración de Parques Nacionales. Delegación Regional Patagonia. Oficina de San Carlos de Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Roesler, Carlos Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Dieguez, Hernán. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Reboreda, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Actividad electromiográfica de músculos masetero superficial y temporal anterior en relación al número de contactos intermaxilares, durante la masticación

51 p.INTRODUCCION: La oclusión corresponde a la relación existente entre los arcos dentarios cuando se encuentran en contacto. Pudiendo cualquier alteración repercutir en la función de los otros componentes del sistema estomatognático, entre ellos los músculos masticadores. En la actualidad la perdida de piezas dentarias, por enfermedad de caries y periodontal es el mayor problema presente en la población mayor. Se ha comprobado que la cantidad de contactos intermaxilares durante el máximo apriete voluntario (MVC) tiene una influencia directa con la actividad eléctrica que ocurre al interior de las fibras musculares de los músculos masticadores. Por lo que es esperable que afecte de igual manera a la función muscular durante la actividad masticatoria. OBJETIVO: Determinar la relación entre el número de contactos dentarios intermaxilares y la actividad electromiográfica de los músculos Temporal Anterior y Masetero Superficial, durante la masticación. MATERIAL Y METODO: Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal, que incluyo una muestra por conveniencia de 9 sujetos con un máximo de 15 contactos intermaxilares y 9 sujetos con 16 o más contactos intermaxilares. Se registró y calculo la actividad electromiográfica (EMG) de los músculos Masetero Superficial y Temporal Anterior durante 10 golpes masticatorios y durante el máximo apriete voluntario en los sujetos de ambos grupos. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el Test T para comparar los conjuntos de datos considerados normales y los Test de Wilcoxon y U de Mann-Whitney para comparar los datos en que uno o ambos conjuntos no cumplieran con la normalidad. RESULTADOS: El 11 % de los sujetos eran hombres y el 89% eran mujeres. Con una edad promedio de 20 años. En los sujetos con mayor número de contactos intermaxilares no se encontró una mayor actividad en los músculos Temporal Anterior y Masetero Superficial. (P>0,05). Sin embargo se observó una tendencia a una mayor actividad al mayor ser la cantidad de contactos intermaxilares. CONCLUSIÓN: Un mayor número de contactos intermaxilares no se asoció significativamente a una mayor actividad muscular. PALABRAS CLAVE: Electromiografía, Músculo Masetero, Músculo Temporal, Oclusión Dental./ABSTRACT:INTRODUCTION: Occlusion corresponds to the connection between the dental arches when they are in contact. Any alteration may affect the function of the other components of the stomatognathic system, including the jaw muscles. Currently, the loss of teeth for cavities and periodontal disease is the biggest problem in the population of old age. It has been found that the amount of intermaxillary contacts during maximal voluntary clenching (MVC) has a direct influence on the electrical activity that occurs within the muscle fibers of the muscles during mastication. So it is expected to affect equally the masticatory muscle function during the masticatory activity. OBJETIVE: To determine the relationship between the number of intermaxillary tooth contacts and the electromyographic activity of muscles temporalis anterior and superficial masseter during mastication. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cross-sectional study, which included a convenience sample of 9 subjects with a maximum of 15 intermaxillary contacts and 9 subjects with 16 or more intermaxillary. The electromyographic activity (EMG) of the muscles Superficial Masseter and Anterior Temporalis Was recorded and calculated for 10 masticatory strokes and during maximal voluntary clenching in subjects of both groups. For statistical analysis the t test was used to compare the data sets considered normal and Wilcoxon test and Mann-Whitney test to compare the data in one or both sets who did not meet normal. RESULTS: 11% of the subjects were male and 89% were female. With an average age of 20 years. In subjects with the highest number of intermaxillary contacts was not found increased activity in the muscles Temporalis anterior and Superficial Masseter. (P> 0.05). However there was a trend of muscular activity to be greater with the increase in the amount of intermaxillary contacts. CONCLUSION: A greater number of contacts intermaxilares not significantly associated with increased muscle activity. KEYWORDS: Electromyography Masseter Muscle, Muscle Temporary, dental occlusion

Cathodoluminescence characterization of InGaSb crystals

The nature and the spatial distribution of radiative defects in In(X)Ga(1-x)Sb grown by the vertical Bridgman method have been studied by cathodoluminescence (CL) in a scanning electron microscope. The CL results have been complemented by X-ray microanalysis and backscattered electron imaging to relate the local luminescence properties to the chemical composition. Measurements of the band gap energy from the CL spectra, supported by X-ray compositional mappings, reveal an effective incorporation of In in the matrix, leading to the fori-nation of the ternary alloy in the whole volume of the ingot. A band often observed in the CL spectra, peaked at about 20 meV below the band gap energy, is attributed to the presence in the ternary alloy of an acceptor level that would correspond to the V(Ga)-Ga(Sb) acceptor in GaSb

Levels of the Novel Endogenous Antagonist of Ghrelin Receptor, Liver-Enriched Antimicrobial Peptide-2, in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating, chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease associated with cachexia. The substitutive therapy of gut hormone ghrelin has been pointed at as a potential countermeasure for the management of metabolic and inflammatory complications in RA. The recent discovery of liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) as an endogenous inverse agonist/antagonist of the ghrelin receptor makes feasible the development of a more rational pharmacological approach. This work aimed to assess the serum LEAP2 levels, in a cohort of RA patients, in comparison with healthy individuals and determine its correlation with inflammatory parameters. LEAP2 levels were determined by a commercial ELISA kit, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were evaluated using immunoturbidimetry, and serum levels of inflammatory mediators, namely IL-6, IL-8, IL-1 , MIP1 , MCP1, and LCN2, were measured by XMap multiplex assay. LEAP2 serum levels were significantly increased in RA patients (n = 101) compared with control subjects (n = 26). Furthermore, the LEAP2 levels significantly correlated with CRP and inflammatory cytokines, but not with BMI. These data reveal LEAP2 as a new potential RA biomarker and indicated the pharmacological control of LEAP2 levels as a novel approach for the treatment of diseases with alterations on the ghrelin levels, such as rheumatoid cachexia

Food addiction and lifetime alcohol and illicit drugs use in specific eating disorders

Background and aims: Food addiction (FA) and substance use (SU) have frequently been reported in patients with eating disorders (EDs). Our study aimed to assess the prevalence rates of FA and/or lifetime problematic alcohol and illicit drug use among patients with specific ED, such as: bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED). We sought to identify clinical, psychopathological, and personality profiles involved in these addictive behavior-based phenotypes. Methods: The total sample was 527 patients (176 BN, 115 BED, and 236 OSFED). FA was assessed through the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. To determine lifetime SU, a semi structured clinical interview was carried out. Results: Patients with BN had the highest rates of FA both with and without SU. No gender differences were obtained for the prevalence of current FA and/or lifetime SU. Patients reporting at least one addictive-related behavior exhibited increased clinical severity compared to those who reported none. Increased impulsivity (such as high lack of premeditation, sensation seeking, and positive urgency) and low self-directedness were differentiating factors for presenting one or two addictive behaviors. Discussion and Conclusions: Overall, patients presenting with at least one addictive-like behavior reported a poorer clinical status than those without. Also, patients with FA and SU exhibited a more dysfunctional profile characterized by high impulsivity and low selfdirectedness. These findings would support the need for targeted treatments to reduce impulsivity and increase self-directedness, especially in patients with any addictive-related behavior, as a step towards improving their treatment outcome